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Front of Shiloh Monument 
Erected at southeast corner of Duncan Field, May, 1903. 




Back <jf Siiiloh Monument 



INSCRIPTION ON BRONZE TABLET 

i2tli Regiment Infantry Volunteers. 

Commanded by Col. J. J. Woods. (Wounded and Captured.) 
Capt. S. R. Edgington. (Captured.) 
This regiment held this position against repeated attacks, from g A. M. to 5 P. M. April 6lh, 
iSb2. It then about faced to meet an attack coming from the rear, and fought its way back to the 
camp of the 41st Illinois, where it was surrounded and captured at 5.30 P. M. 
Total number reported present for duty, including musicians, teamsters, etc., 489. 
Its loss in the battle was 2 officers and 15 men killed; 1 officer and 42 men woundedand left on 
the field; 33 men wounded and captured, and 20 officers and 366 men missing. Total 479. 

Of the wounded 16 died of their wounds; of the missing 4 were never afterwards heard from; 
they were doubtless killed; of the missing 71 died in prison. 



CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES 



OP THE 



TWELFTH REGIMENT 

IOWA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 



PROM ORGANIZATION, SEPTEMBER, 1861, TO 
MUSTER-OUT, JANUARY 20, 1866. 



- B Y - 



MAJOR DAVID W. REED. 






To the BurviYipg members of the 12th 
Iowa Yolunteersj and in memory of our 
beloved comrades who fell in defense of 
our flag. 

No truer, braver souls than yours 
Ere heard the muskets rattle, 

Or met unblanched the rebel foe 
Upon the field of battle — Bryant. 






INTRODUCTION. 



At the first reunion of the 12th Iowa Veteran Volunteer 
Infantry, held at Manchester, Iowa, April 6, 1880, D. W 
Reed was elected historian. He was requested to prepare a 
recotd of ' the services of the regiment from its organizating 
to muatier-out, and to include in the record such items as 
would bei of interest to " our children," and the friends of 
the regimfe^t \vho were not participants in its campaigns and 
battles. ■' ' I • 

Rekllzitig tix&t little could be told that would be new or 
of interest to ilibise comrades who marched and fought with 
the regiment" during the entire service — except as it might 
serve to revive h'^lf -forgotten memories of the past — the 
historian endeavored to keep in mind the latter part of his 
instruction and to write for those who may in the future 
desire to kuQw how the "boys of '61 " were equipped ; how 
they made their camps and bivouacs ; or how they fought 
and won their battles. 

At the regimental reunion at Sioux City, October 8, 1894, 
the history was reported complete, and the manuscript placed 
at the disposal of a committee on publication. Since that time 
the writer has been engaged in a work that has given him 
opportunity to make a very close study of one of the inter- 
esting campaigns of the regiment. This study, and the 
many letters of inquiry from members of the regiment, 
revived an interest in the history, so that, after eight years, 
he took up the almost forgotten manuscript; made some 
slight corrections in numbers engaged, and in casualties at 



Shiloh ; added an occasional foot note of explanation, and 
then re submitted the work. 

At the regimental reunion at Clermont, June 19, 1903, 
General Stibbs presented the matter to the comrades and, in 
conjunction with Colonel Henderson, Captain Soper, Captain 
Gift and H. C Curtis, became responsible for four-fifths of 
the cost of publication and secured a promise that 500 
copies would be published and furnished to members of the 
regiment at cost of printing and binding. 

Disclaiming any pretentions to literary merit, or any 
attempt to paint in glowing colors, hoping only to give a 
plain statement of the facts, as proved by the official records, 
in such shape that they may be of use and interest to our 
children and to others who are interested in our record, the 
author respectfully dedicated the work: "To our Comrades 
living, and to the fathers mothers, sisters, brothers, widows 
and children of those who fell in battle front or by the way- 
side," with the wish that it may preserve, to our successors, 
a record of the marches, battles and other services of a 
regiment, whose officers and men did noble and gallant 
service for their Country and their Flag in the memorable 
days of 1861 to 1866. 

David W. Reed, 

Bvt. Maj. U. S. v., Major 12th Iowa V. V. I. 
Evanston, 111., July, 1903 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER r. 
Organization of the Regiment. — Muster-in-Roll. — Dubuque to St. Louis. 

CHAPTER II. 

Benton Barracks. — Arms and Equipments. — Measles.— Ordered South. — 

Smithland, Kentucky. 

CHAPTER III. 
Fort Henry. — Fort Donelson. — Metal Landing. 

CHAPTER IV. 
Just Before the Battle. — Gathering of the Forces at Pittsburg Landing. 

CHAPTER V. 
Battle of Shiloh.— April 6th and 7th, 1862. 

CHAPTER VI. 
After the Battle. — List of Killed, Wounded, Prisoners and Missing 

CHAPTER VII. 
Reviews, Reports, &c.— Was Shiloh a Surprise? 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Union Brigade.— Advance on Corinth. — Battle of Corinth. — Prison 

Life. — Reorganization of the Regiment. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Vicksburg Campaign — Jackson, Miss.— Siege of Vicksburg. — Siege of 

Jackson. — Brandon Station. — Return to Vicksburg. 

CHAPTER X. 
Chewalla, Tenn. — Veteran Enlistment. — Meridian Campaign. — Veteran 

Furlough. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Return to the Front. — Tupelo.— Oxford. — Arkansas Travelers. — Price 

Raid. — Twice Across the State of Missouri.— Return to St. Louis. 

CHAPTER XII. 
Nashville. — Brentwood Hills. — Pursuit of Hood. — Eastport. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
To the Gulf. — New Orleans. — Dauphine Island. Spanish Fort. — Mont- 
gomery.— Selma.— Talladega. — Memphis. — Muster 
Out at the End of the War. 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Personal Sketches of Regimental Officers. — Col. Woods. — Col. Stibbs. — 
Lt. Col. Knee. — Major Brodtbeck et al — Roster of th^ 
Regiment. 



BATTLES IN WHICH THE 12TH IOWA WAS ENGAGED. 



Fort Henry, Tenn., February 6, 1862. 

Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 13, 14, 15, 1862 
Shiloh, Tenn., April, 6, 1862. 

Siege of Corinth, Miss., May 1862. 

Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3. 4, 1862. 
Raymond, Miss., May 12, 1863. 

Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863. 

Vicksburg, Miss., Assaults and Siege, May 18 to July 4, 1863. 
Jackson, Miss., July 10 to 16, 1863. 
Brandon, Miss., July 19, 1863. 

Brownsville, Miss., October 16, 17, 1863. , 
White River, Ark., June 22, 1864. 
Coonewar, Miss, July 13, 1864. 

Tupelo. Miss., July 14, 15, 1864. 

Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864. 

Brentwood Hills, Tenn , December 16, 1864. 

Spanish Fort, Ala., March 27 to April 9, 1865. 
Twelve Skirmishes at different dates. 



Non- Veterans were in the Red River, La., campaign, 
March to June 1864, including the battles of: 

Fort De Russy, March 14, 1864. 

Henderson Hill, March 21, 22, 1864. 
Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864. 
Mansura, May 16, 1864. 

Yellow Bayou, May 17, 1864. 

Bayou De Glaize, May 18, 1864. 

0}d River Lake, or Lake Chicot, June 6, 1864, 



CHAPTER I. 



September-November, 1861 — Organization. 



The Twelfth Iowa Infantry Volunteers was organized in 
the fall of 1861 from companies recruited in the Counties of 
Hardin, Allamakee, Fayette, Linn, Black Haw^k, Delaware, 
Winneshiek, Dubuque, and Jackson, under the proclamation 
of President Lincoln calling for volunteers, issued soon after* 
the disastrous battle of Bull Run, and dated July 23, 1861. 

The first enlistments made for the regiment were about 
the 14th of September, 1861, on which date men were en- 
listed in two or three of the companies. (Companies "A" 
and " I " were ordered into quarters on that date ) 

The companies as recruited were ordered to report at 
Dubuque, Iowa, at a camp of instruction established upon 
the banks of the Mississippi River, two or three miles north 
of the city, which camp had just been vacated by the 9th 
Iowa, and was designated as Camp Union, and commanded 
by Maj. S. D Brodtbeck, afterward the major of the regiment. 
The Krst company to report at said camp of instruction 
was H. J. Playter's company from Dubuque, October 10. 
The first company to muster in was the "Allison Rifles," 
from Hardin county, Capt. S. R. Edgington commanding, 
October 17. These companies were followed in rapid suc- 
cession by the other companies until about November 1, 
when all had reported. 

Camp Union was located on a sand bluff about fifty feet 
above the river. The barracks consisted of wooden sheds, 
built entirely, including the roof, of rough green pine lum- 
ber; they were undoubtedly comfortable summer quarters 



4 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. i 

but were quite too well ventilated for the rigorous winter 
weather of November, 1861. To each company was assigned 
a single building twenty by fifty feet, built without floors or 
doors, and with two platforms, one above the other, each 
about twelve feet wide, extending the whole length of the 
building, each platform intended to give sleeping accommo- 
dations for fifty men, twenty-five on each side, heads to- 
gether in the middle. As there was no partition between 
bunks, there was opportunity for considerable discussion as 
to the rights of pre-emption; but it also afforded the oppor- 
tunity to lie close together and so keep from freezing. No 
provisions were made for warming the barracks neither was 
there kitchen or shelter of any kind in which to cook or 
eat. No matter how stormy the weather, victuals must be 
cooked out of doors by an open fire, and eaten from plates 
held in the hand while seated on the ground or standing in 
the snow or rain. These inconveniences would have been 
willingly borne if necessar3\ or the men would have gladly 
supplied the deficiencies themselves had they been allowed 
to do so, but it seemed to be the prevailing opinion at that 
time that it was a part of the necessary instruction of the 
camp to compel the men to live as uncomfortably as possible; 
therefore close guards were kept about the camp and no ex- 
tras of any kind allowed to be brought in. According to the 
writer's recollection there was no time after Camp Union, 
that the regiment was in camp, even though only for a few 
days, when the men did not have better camp accommoda- 
tions than at Dubuque, not excepting even the month at East- 
port, Miss., where they lived on corn, but in a few days sup- 
plied themselves with excellent quarters, with a good fire- 
place in each. Neither do we remember of any instance 
after Camp Union where the regiment was restricted by a 
regimental camp guard. 

From the arrival of the first company in camp the men 
were kept constanily at drill, squad drill, company drill, and 
battalion drill following one another in rapid succession. 



ORGAN IZ A TION 5 

The " Little Major" was no doubt sorelj' tried by the awkard- 
ness of both officers and men ; and as the officers, with one 
or two exceptions, were as ignorant of the drill as the men, 
the Major's patience was often exhausted, and he was 
frequently seen spurring the black horse down upon some 
unfortunate officer, whose mistake had mixed the command, 
as though he would ride him down, and with that emphatic 
jerk of his head, declare: "Officers all wrong! Officers all 
wrong! Men all right!" often accompanied with an admoni- 
tion to study the tactics more. In order to enforce this sug- 
gestion it was no uncommon sight to see the major parading 
the company officers about the drill ground, they holding 
the ends of strings, representing company distances, and he 
putting them through the battalion drill. This "bearing 
down '* on the officers made Major Brodtbeck very popular 
with the men of course, notwithstanding his perpetual drill 
and his persistence in marching the regiment in two ranks 
when moving by flank, according to his early Swiss drill — it 
is presumed — instead of allowing them to double in four 
ranks, according to Casey's revised tactics. No one who 
has been there can ever forget the sore heels and the ruined 
temper caused by marching raw recruits in two ranks and 
then nagging them continually with "Close up!" "Close 
[up!" "You are losing distance!" and every fellow looking 
persistently down to his feet and trying by one long step and 
one short one to keep up to his file leader and at the same 
time keep off his heels. 

October 23rd, Joseph J. Woods was commissioned Colonel 
I and took immediate command of companies then in camp. 
I The other officers of field and staff were commissioned about 
that time. (See roster for dates.) 

About the 15th of November the regiment was supplied 
with blankets, knapsacks, canteens and fatigue uniforms. 
Dress uniforms were promised later, but were never issued; 
and, with a few exceptions, of men on detached service, dress 
coats were never worn by men of the Twelfth Iowa, as they 



6 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 1 

were never called upon for garrison or provost guard duty; 
they had no use for white gloves and dress suits, and were 
always thought to be fully equipped for duty when dressed 
in blue blouse fatigue suits, blanket rolled, ends tied and 
thrown over the shoulder, canteen and haversack with three 
days' rations, and the inevitable musket and " forty rounds" 
of cartridges in box and as many more in pocket. 

The shivering and cheerless camp and constant drill, 
varied only by a double quick to the top of a bluff, a charge 
upon an unfortunate stump, and by one regimental ex- 
pedition into the country, had an end at last. The 
regimental organization having been completed, it was on 
the 25th day of November, 1861, mustered into the United 
States service, as Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, by 
Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., 926 men, rank and file, as 
shown by the muster- in-rolls, as follows: 

Field and Staff : Colonel, Joseph J. Woods; Lieut. 
Col., John P. Coulter; Major, Samuel D. Brodtbeck; Ad. 
jutant, Nathaniel E. Duncan; Quartermaster, Joseph Bj 
Dorr; Surgeon, C. C. Parker; Assistant Surgeon, W. H. 
Pinley; Chaplain, A. G. Eberhart, and five non-commissioned. 

Total rank and file 13 men. 

Company A. — Captain, S. R. Edgington; Lieuts., A. E. 
Webb, G. W. Moir. Enrolled in Hardin county; ordered 
into quarters by the Governor of the State, Sept. 14y 
1861, and mustered into the service of the United States 
by Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, 

Oct. 17, 1861. Total rank and file 92 men. 

Company B. — Captain, W. C. Earle; Lieuts., L. H. Merrill, 
J. H. Borger. Enrolled in Allamakee county; ordered 
into quarters by the Governor of the State, Oct, 14, 
1861, and mustered into the United States service by 
Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 

17, 1861. Total rank and file . , 90 men. 

Company C— Captain, W. W. Warner; Lieuts., D. B; 
Henderson, A. M. Smith. Enrolled in Payette county. 



ORG A NIZA TION 7 

ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State, Sept. 
1^8, 1861, and mustered into the United States service by 
Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, 
Oct. 24, 1861. Total, rank and file 100 men. 

lOMPANY D. — Captain, J. H. Stibbs; Lieuts., J. D. Ferguson, 
Hiel Hale. Enrolled in Linn county; ordered into 
quarters by the Governor of the State, Sept. 20, 1861, 
and mustered into the United States service by Captain 
C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 26, 1861. 
Total, rank and file 98 men. 

lOMPANY E. — Captain, William Haddock; Lieuts., John 
Elwell, Robert Williams, Enrolled in Black Hawk 
county; ordered into quarters by the Governor of the 
State, Sept. 18, 1861, and mustered into the United 
States service by Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at 
Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 29, 1861. Total, rank and file 
94 men. 

Company P.— Captain, J. E. Ainsworth; Lieuts., J. W. 
Gift, William A. Morse. Enrolled in Delaware county, 
ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State, 

, and mustered into the United States service by 

Captain C. Washington U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, 
Oct. 26, and Nov. 2, 1861. Total, rank and file. . .99 men. 

])OMPANY G. — Captain, C. C. Tupper. Lieuts., L. D. Towns- 
ley, J. F. Nickerson. Enrolled in Winneshiek county; 
ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State, 
Sept. 30, 1861, and mustered into the United States 
service by Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, 
Iowa, Nov. 5, 1861. Total, rank and file 90 men. 

!3oMPANY H. — Captain, H. J. Playter; Lieuts., Robert 
Fishel, L. W. Jackson. Enrolled in the counties of 
Delaware and Dubuque; ordered into quarters by the 
Governor of the State, Oct. 10, 1861, and mustered into 
the United States service by Captain C. Washington, 
U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, Nov. 5, 1861. Total, rank 
and file 82 men. 



8 TWELFTH REGIMEN T lO IV A INFANTR Y. 

Company I. — Captain E. M. VanDuzee, Lieuts., J. J. Marks, 
A. L. Palmer. Enrolled in Jackson County; ordered 
into quarters by the Governor of the State, Sept. 14 
1861, and mustered into the United States service by 
Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque, Iowa, 
Nov. 16, 1861. Total, rank and file 85 menj 

Company K. — Captain, J. G. Fowler; Lieuts., Lawrence 
Webb, J. J. Brown. Enrolled in Delaware County, 
ordered into quarters by the Governor of the State, 
Oct. 10, 1861, and mustered into the United States 
service by Captain C. Washington, U. S. A., at Dubuque,; 

Iowa, Nov. 25, 1861. Total, rank and file 83 men. 

In the "Roster of the Regiment" it will be noted that 

the original members of the regiment were those who were 

mustered in on, or before, Nov. 25, 1861. 

" Out from our homes and hearthstones 
Noble of heart and free, 
Each to the call responding, 
God and our Native land I 
Brothers and friends and husbands, 
Follow the guiding star, 
Gone from our homes, God help us. 
Gone, gone to the war." 



CHAPTER II. 



St. Louis, Mo., and Smithland, Ky. — December 1861 
AND January 1862. 



Immediately after muster-in, the regiment was ordered 
to prepare five days' cooked rations and be ready, next morn- 
ing, to take a boat for St. Louis, there to report to General 
Halleck, commanding the Department of the Missouri. 
Details from each company were up all night cooking the 
rations, and early Tuesday morning, November 26, knap- 
sacks were packed and slung and the regiment formed, 
ready and willing, to bid good-bye to Camp Union. Some- 
time during the afternoon the quartermaster reported that 
the boats for transportation had not arrived, and the regi- 
ment was dismissed with orders to remain near by, ready to 
fall in quickly. This first experience of waiting for orders 
was particularly trying because of the cold and lack of fuel 
of any kind with which to build fires, and it is not strange 
that parts of the barracks were in danger of being used for 
campfires. The night was passed most uncomfortably and 
next morning the regiment again formed and marched half 
way to the city when the quartermaster again appeared, this 
time with the information that transportation provided con- 
sisted of open barges for the men, officers only could be 
accommodated in the boat which was to tow the barges. As 
the temperature was about zero and snow falling, the colonel 
refused to accept such transportation and marched his men 
back to the camp while other transportation was being 
arranged. In the afternoon the regiment was marched into 
Dabuque and after standing in the streets until after dark 



10 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

was quartered for the night in public halls, etc. Several 
companies occupying the hall over the market which was 
found to be much more comfortable than the open barracks 
at camp. Next morning the ladies of Dubuque supplied the 
regiment with hot coffee which was brought into the Market 
hall in huge wash tubs, but as the quality was excellent and 
the supply ample no objection was made to the delivery. 
For their kind thoughtfulness the ladies received the grate- 
ful thanks of the men. v 

Thanksgiving day, November 28, was spent in crossing | 
the river and getting on board the cars of the Illinois Central 
Railroad at Dunlieth. At 10 P. M. the two trains with the 
regiment on board got away and at 6 A. M. on the 30th 
arrived at East St. Louis — two days making the trip from 
Dubuque to St, Louis, 375 miles, was the fast time made in 
transporting troops in those days. — At 2 P. M. the regiment , 
crossed the river and marched to Benton Barracks, a camp 
recently created near the fair grounds, where it was as- 
signed to barracks, two companies in each, although de- 
signed for but one company. On Sunday, December 1, the 
regiment was ordered out and had its first inspection and 
review as a part of a large army. 

Of the large number of regiments assembled at Benton 
Barracks at that time very few of the members had ever seen 
an army musket and knew nothing of the manual of arms 
and very little of the other drill. They were of the very best 
soldier material, but, as yet, entirely ignorant of the advan- 
tage of discipline and the rules for the preservation of health. 
This ignorance, common to raw recruits, and consequent 
lack of care for their health during the cold and rainy 
weathei- of January, 1862, resulted in a scourge of measles, 
pneumonia and mumps, which put nearly half the camp on 
the sick list and turned the "camp of instruction," as it was 
called in general orders, into what might be called a general 
hospital. 

The Twelfth, like the other regiments, suffered severely 



ST. LOUIS, MO., AND SMITHLAND, KY. 11 

from disease, and although the men were in apparent good 
health on their arrival at St. Louis, within one month from 
that time one-half of the regiment was unable for duty and 
seventy-five had died. Many others were so debilitated that 
they never returned to service with the regiment but re- 
mained in hospital for a time and were then discharged for 
disability. The muster roll shows that no station or battle- 
field, occupied during the war, was more fatal to the Twelfth 
than these barracks. Among those who died here was 
Captain Tupper of Company "G," an officer of great promise 
and very popular. 

On the 26th of December the regiment received arms 
and accoutrements, and, owing to the persistent effort of 
Colonel Woods or the influence which he had with " the 
powers that be," the regiment was so fortunate that while 
others — the Thirteenth Iowa, for instance— was being armed 
with Harper's Ferry muskets altered from old flintlocks, or 
with Belgian smooth-bores, the Twelfth received the very 
best arms then in the service — new Enfield rifles, of which 
the men were very proud. It also received a full supply of 
camp and garrison equipage, including Sibley tents, heavy 
mess chests, axes, spades, picks, with kettles and pans in- 
numerable, and an immense wagon train consisting of twelve 
wagons, each drawn by six mules; two ambulances, each 
drawn by four horses. Thus equipped, with more baggage 
and a larger train than would have been allowed three years 
later for the whole 16th Army Corps, it was declared to be 
ready for the field. 

January 6, 1862, the regiment received its first visit from 
the Paymaster and its pay accounts were settled from the day 
of enlistment to January 1, 1862, the private soldiers receiv- 
ing the munificent sum of $13.00 per month, paid, however, 
at this payment, but never afterwards, in gold and silver. 
The writer's memoranda of that date shows the receipt of 
$45.50 in full for three and a half months' service, from Sep- 
tember 15, to December 31, inclusive. 



12 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

January 26, 1862, Colonel Woods received orders to re- 
port with his regiment to General Grant at Cairo, 111. Under 
this order the regiment left the barracks on the morning of 
the 27th, marched through the city, crossed the river on the 
ferry and embarked on the cars for the south and active 
service in the field. The men were so glad to escape the 
disease-breeding barracks that they hailed this movement to 
the front with much pleasure, and many of them who were 
unfit for duty refused to remain in the hospital and left their 
beds to join their comrades in the ranks. 

Arriving at Cairo about noon on the 28th, the regiment 
lay upon the wharf until night and then embarked on the 
steamer City of Memphis for Smithland, Ky., a small town at 
the mouth of the Cumberland river, where it established 
its first camp in the field January 30, 1862. It required 
about two days to unload all the equipage from the boat, 
arrange the mules in teams of six, harness them to the 
wagons and get them sufficiently well broken to haul the stuff 
to camp, so that the tents were not all set and camp 
thoroughly settled until the third day. In the meantime 
temporary quarters had been had in churches, halls, etc. 

The first tents furnished the regiment were of the Sibley 
pattern, invented by General Sibley and planned after an In- 
dian tepee — cone-shaped — about 16 feet across at the base 
and supported by a pole in the center which had an iron tri- 
pod foot; the top of the pole supported an iron ring about 
one foot in diameter, to which the cloth of the tent was at- 
tached, thus leaving an opening one foot across at the apex 
of the tent for ventilation. These tents are intended to 
accommodate about sixteen men each, and by sleeping with 
heads at the outer edge of the tent and feet all towards the 
center they were found to contain ample room. In cold 
weather a fire could be built between the legs of the iron 
tripod which supported the center pole, the smoke es- 
caping at the top, thus making the tent very comfortable. 
The occupants of each tent formed a mess and were supplied 



ST. LOUIS, MO., AND SMITHLAND, KY. 13 

with a mess chest, in which were stored tin plates, cups, 
spoons, knives, forks, etc. These, however, were hixuries 
that could not last; the tents were too heav3'' and unwieldy 
for active service and soon gave place to the small wedge 
tent, which was afterwards supplanted by the shelter, or 
" Pup " tent, just large enough for two men, and so arranged 
that each man could carry half a tent The contents of the 
mess chest was soon divided up, each man carrying his own 
plate, cup, knife and spoon in his haversack with his rations, 
so that in the later days of the war when camp was reached 
at night there was no waiting for the wagons to come up 
with tents and camp equipage, before the camp could be 
pitched, but each man had all his outfit with him and it 
needed only a few moments of time after the halt to have 
everything in order to pass the night comfortably. Very 
little, if any, of the heavy camp and garrison equipage first 
set up by the regiment at Smithland survived the first sum- 
mer campaign, if, indeed, any of it survived the battle of 
Shiloh. 

The time allowed the regiment to enjoy its first camp in 
the field was of short duration, for the men had no more 
than gotten everything nicely arranged than they were re- 
quired to strike camp very hastily on the morning of Feb- 
ruary 5, and hurry on board a steamer to join an expedition 
fitting out for an attack upon Port Henry. Arriving at 
Paducah, Ky., at the mouth of the Tennessee river, they 
found a large fleet of transports, loaded with troops, as- 
sembled in the river. The regiment was here assigned to 
Col. John Cook's 3rd brigade of Gen. C. P. Smith's 2nd divi- 
sion of the Army of the District of Cairo, commanded by 
Gen. U. S. Grant, and thus became, for the first time, a part 
of an organized army. No opportunity was given for officers 
and men to become acquainted with their new commands and 
associates, but the fleet, convoyed by gunboats, proceeded 
at once up the Tennessee river 



CHAPTER III. 



Port Henry and Fort Donelson — February, 1862. 



About September, 1861, Gen. A. S. Johnston of the Con- 
federate service had established a line of forts from Columbus 
to Bowling Green, Ky. , as a bar against the advance of the 
forces from the North, and on this line had fortified Fort 
Henry, Columbus, Fort Donelson and Bowling Green. 

Fort Henry, on the right hank of the Tennessee river, 
was a five-bastioned fortification of earth, mounting twelve 
guns, commanding a stretch of the river for some miles. 
Infantry intrenchments occupied the high land extending 
from the river above to the river below the fort and com- 
manding the roads to the rear. The fort was commanded by 
General Tilghman with about 3,400 men. 

General Grant had, early in January, asked permission 
to attack the enemy's center on the Tennessee, and on 
January 28, Commodore Foote wrote General Halleck con- 
curring with General Grant and asking permission to make 
the attack on Fort Henry. 

February 1, General Grant received the order to get 
ready, and immediately put his forces in motion. The ex- 
pedition fitted out by him consisted of 17,000 men on trans- 
ports, convoyed by a fleet of seven gunboats commanded 
by Commodore Foote. The following is the field order for 
the expedition: 

" Headquarters, District of Cairo, Camp in Field 
Near Fort Henry, February 5, 1862. 
General Field Order, 

No. 1. 

The First division, John A. McCler- 
nand commanding, will move to-morrow at 11 o'clock A. M., under the 



FOR T HENR Y A ND FOR T DONELSON \ 5 

guidance of Lieut. Col. McPherson, and take a position on the roads 
from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson and Dover. It will be the special 
duly of this command to prevent all re-entorcements to Fort Henry or 
escape from it; also to be in readiness to charge and take Fort Henry 
by storm pi-omptly on the receipt of orders. 

Two brigades of the Second division, General C. F. Smith com- 
manding, will start at same hour from the west bank of the river and 
lake and occupy the heights commanding Fort Henry. 

The Third brigade, Second division, will advance up the east bank 
of Tennessee river as fast. as it can be securely done and be in readiness 
to charge the fort or move to support of First division, as may be 
necessary. 

The troops will move with two days' rations of bread and meat in 
their haversacks. 

By order of Brig. Gen U. S. Grant. 

John A. Rawlins, A. A G " 

Soon after daylight February 6, the transports were 
landed at Bailey's Perry, four miles below Fort Henry, and 
the troops, as above designated, were disembarked for the 
purpose of making an attack from the land side, while the 
gunboats should attack in front. The water in the river was 
at flood and the low land all overflowed, so that the troops in 
landing found little room for forming regiments in line and 
none to form by brigades, except by marching out some dis- 
tance along a road leading toward Dover. 

The men of the Twelfth had moved out but a short dis- 
tance on the road leading towards Fort Henry when the 
sound of the attack by the gunboats reached their ears and 
they were hurried rapidly forward over ground very soft and 
difficult, raach of the way entirely without road, crossing 
rapid streams on single foot-logs, in this way stringing the 
regiment out and then double quicking to close up until all 
were perfectly exhausted. The high water backing up in 
the ravines compelled the men to make long detours, so that 
they arrived in position at the rear of the fort only to find 
that the most of the enemy had tied, and the balance, con- 
sisting of General Tilghman and eleven officers and eighty- 
two men and the guns of the fort, had surrendered to Com- 



16 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

modore Foote, the infantry having escaped toward Fort 
Donelson. The cavalry j^ursued for several miles, capturing 
during the pursuit thirty-eight prisoners and six pieces of 
artillery. 

The Twelfth bivouacked near the line of the deserted 
earthworks, depending entirely on the contents of haversacks 
for supper, and upon the blankets brought with them for 
beds. The next morning heavy details were made to bring 
forward the camp and garrison equipage, which was brought 
up to the fort and unloaded from the boats, but owing to the 
high water it was impossible to haul it out on wagons, so 
that most of the stuff was carried out by the men and set up 
in camp again. It was two or three days before everything 
was in order, and none too soon, for on the 12th the regiment 
was ordered out in "light marching order, with three days' 
rations in haversacks." The weather was warm and pleas- 
ant, and, remembering the burden of overcoats on the recent 
march, the men accepted the order as it read ("light march- 
ing order"), and fell into ranks without overcoats, taking 
only one blanket each. Marching twelve miles the regiment 
bivouacked at night in line of battle before Fort Donelson. 
General Grant had left Lew. Wallace's division at Fort 
Henry and invested Fort Donelson with two divi ions, com- 
manded by McClernand and Smith, with a total of 15,000 
men. General Smith's division forming the extreme left of 
the line of investment, (Colonel Cook's brigade, consisting 
of the 52nd Indiana, 7th and 50th Illinois, 13th Missouri, 
12th Iowa and a battery of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, 
forming the center of tlie division; Colonel Lauman's brigade, 
consisting of the 2nd, 7th and 14th Iowa, 25th Indiana, and 
14th Missouri forming the extreme left. 

Fort Donelson, on the left bank of the Cumberland 
river, had been reinforced by the troops from Fort Henry and 
other points, and was garrisoned, on the night of February 
12, by about 20,000 well disciplined troops, strongly sup- 
ported by artillery. The fort itself was a formidable earth- 



FOR T HENR Y A ND FOR T D ON ELS ON 1 T 

work, built on a hill about one hundred feet above the water 
of the Cumberland; it enclosed about one hundred acres of 
land; at the base of the hill near the river were two heavy 
water batteries. The country around about the fort is a suc- 
cession of hills, a most rugged surface, cut by stream ravines 
and deep gullies. At an average distance of one mile from 
the fort was a line of rifle pits extending, except short inter- 
vals, completely around the work, from near the river above 
to the river below. Outside the rifle pits, and again between 
the fort and rifle pits was a strong abatis, consisting of trees 
felled tops outward and limbs sharpened, which afforded to 
the garrison a very effectual barrier against assault. 

Early on the morning of the 13th the line was advanced, 
the Twelfth moving in line of battle toward the fort. The 
men soon experienced the first shock of hearing the dis- 
charge of artillery, knowing that the pieces were aimed 
" this way," and the greater shock which comes to every man 
the first time he sees wounded men borne to the rear of a 
battle line. 

The regiment moved forward to the brow of the hill, 
within easy range of the fort and separated from it by a 
ravine filled with fallen timber, making an abatis entirely 
impassable by a regiment in line, and nearly impenetrable 
by a skirmish line. Here the regiment halted and Company 
A was detailed as skirmishers and sent forward into the 
abatis to drive out the rebel sharpshooters. In this service 
the company lost the first man of the regiment killed in 
battle, Private E. C. Buckner, shot in the head and killed 
instantly. 

No attempt was made during the day by any of Smith's 
division to advance farther than to get into position and wait 
for the gunboats. 

McClernand's division, in pushing around to the right, 
had become engaged in several sharp skirmishes, and at one 
point Colonel Morrison's brigade made an assault upon a 
salient of the fort held by a Confederate battery, but was 



18 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

repulsed with severe loss. The gunboat "Carondelet" had 
tried the water batteries at long range, and had dismounted 
one gun in the fort and had in return received a solid shot in 
one of her port holes, disabling her machinery so that she 
drew out of range. 

During the afternoon rain began to fall, and soon after 
the weather turned colder so that the men were obliged to 
wrap their blankets around them as they stood in line, none 
of them had at that time been providea with rubber blankets, 
and of course, all were soon thoroughly drenched. About 
dark the rain turned to snow and continued to fall very fast 
until it lay five or six inches on the ground, the cold increas- 
ing until it was below freezing Fires could not be lighted 
on account of nearness to rebel lines and as the only resource 
left to prevent freezing to death, the men, laying aside their 
now stiffly frozen blankets, commenced running around in a 
circle, and through the live long night kept up that— "By 
company, in a circle, double quick, march ! " entirely new to 
Casey's tactics. Major Brodtbeck was found, during the 
night seated at the foot of a tree so completely chilled that 
he could not move. He was roused with some difficulty, and 
as he afterwards said, "Someone gave me something out 
of a canteen that warmed me, but I ask no question 
what it is.'" With some effort he was revived, but this 
exposure was the cause of a severe attack of rheumatism 
and chronic diarrhoea from which he never recovered. 
One company at a time was kept on picket at the front, 
but these were frequently changed during the night. 
About daylight of the 14th the whole regiment was relieved 
and marched to the rear where the men built fires and made 
coffee, dried their clothes and took some needed rest. At 
noon the regiment resumed its place at the front again 
and with skirmishers well advanced, continued the work 
of watching the enemy in his works About 3 o'clock P. M. 
the gunboats made an attack upon the fort, but after a severe 
action of one hour and a half, withdrew, several of the boats 



FORT HENRY AND FORI DONELSON 19 

having been disabled and Commodore Foote wounded. 
There had also been some fighting on the right and our 
lines had been extended in that direction to the back water 
from the river above the fort, completing the investments. 
General Wallace had been ordered over from Fort Henry and 
assigned a place in the center, making our line continuous 
from river below to river above. The weather continued 
cold during the night of the 14th, which was passed about as 
the previous one, and the 15th found the whole army in line 
of battle, but no attempt had been made to strengthen the 
position by breastworks or otherwise. General Grant had 
gone to consult with Commodore Foote, when the enemy 
made a desperate attack on the extreme right of our line, 
and by massing his forces at that point and striking directly 
in flank, succeeded in rolling all of McClernand's division 
back upon Wallace, who was making a desperate but in- 
effectual effort to check the advance; when Grant arrived on 
the field, and comprehending the situation, he immediately 
took the offensive and ordered Smith to attack the fort with 
his whole division. The men of this division had heard the 
terrible roar of the conflict as it approached from the right; 
had listened with bated breath and clasped musket waiting 
orders which would send them to the help of their comrades, 
but as yet had been unable to take any active part in the 
fray. 

Smith upon receiving orders to attack, directed Cook with 
his brigade to make a feint attack directly in his front and 
Lauman to charge the works on theenemj^'s right. The men 
went enthusiastically to the work and in a few moments the 
Second Iowa, leading the charge, had planted its flag upon 
the works, where it was quickly reinforced by the other 
regiments of Lauman's and Cook's brigades. 

The Twelfth had, after the first feint, moved by the flank 
forcing its way through the abatis, receiving a heavy fire 
from the front and right flank, and very soon reached a posi- 
tion zvithin the enemy's works, to the right of the Second 



20 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

Iowa, the flag of the Twelfth was the first one carried over 
the works, the regiment following the retreating enemy some 
distance inside the fort when it w as recalled to the first line 
of works and held that position during the night. 

The loss of the regiment was light, when we con- 
sider the difficult grounds over which the attack was 
made and the severe fire to which it was subjected. This 
small loss is accounted for by the fact that the fire of 
the enemy was too high to be effective. The losses of the 
regiment on the 15th was one killed, John J. Stillman, Co. B 
and two officers and thirty- two men wounded. (Por names, 
see Colonel Woods' report. ) 

The enemy, as soon as the movement of Smith's division 
was discovered, recalled the troojDS that had attacked Mc- 
Clernand, and brought all his forces inside of the w^orks to 
repel Smith's attack, then Wallace and McClernand immedi- 
ately took the offensive and regained the position which had 
been lost, thus completely enveloping the fort again. By 
thus recalling the troops, to repel Smith, the enemy lost all 
the advantage he had gained in making the attack, which 
had been ordered for the purpose of securing an open road 
out of the fort. Night put an end to further movements 
and left Smith in possession of the outer works at the key 
to the position from which he could enfilade the works still 
held by tlie enemy. 

At daylight on the morning of the 16th white flags were 
shown along the works still held by the enemy and the fort 
was unconditionally surrendered with all its munitions of 
war and 15,000 prisoners. Generals Pillow and Floyd with 
a part of their command escaped by boats, Forrest and his 
cavalry by fording a bayou. Oar forces moved immediately 
inside the works and took possession. 

The fall of Fort Donelson was the first great success to 
our arms thus far during the war. A few petty successes and 
various drawn battles with occasional defeats had been the 
record, but neither army had scored a real victory to which 



FOR r HENR Y AND FOR T DONELSON 21 

it could point with pride; here, however, was an emphatic 
victory and the fruit of it to show to the world. The Con- 
federate line of defense was broken at the center and a whole 
army taken prisoners of war. There was consequently, 
great rejoicing, both in the army and through the North, 
and the name of U. S. Grant, under the soubriquet of "Uncon- 
ditional Surrender Grant, " came prominently before the 
people. In the South the taking of Fort Donelson caused 
consternation. Columbus, Bowling Green and Nashville 
were immediately evacuated and Kentucky and Tennessee 
virtually abandoned to the possession of the Union forces. 

Congratulations poured in upon the troops. Governors 
of States and large delegations of citizens came down to 
visit the battlefield and look after the wounded. Iowa troops 
were not neglected, they received a visit from Governor 
Kirkwood, who afterw^ard wrote a personal letter to Colonel 
Woods as follows: 

Des Moines, Ia., March 32, 1863. 
Dear Colonel: 

Please apologize for me to your officers and men for not calling on 
them before I left Donelson. My apology to them and to you is this: 
We went on horseback to Dover on the morning we left, to say good-by 
to General Hurlbut and to arrange for the first boat to call for me at the 
fort, intending to stop and dine with you on our return When in Hurl- 
but's headquarters the steamboat Conestoga came down and the officers 
came into headquarters. On hearing of our desire to go down the river 
the officer in command politely offered us a passage on his boat, which 
he said would leave in forty minutes; so we had barely time to ride back 
to the fort and get our traps down to the wharf so as to go with the boat. 
We were afraid to lose the chance, as it might delay us a day or two 
longer, and I could not leave the Legislature. Please explain this and 
express my regret that I could not have spent some time with you. 

The Iowa troops made themselves and our state a glorious name. 
The 2nd regiment had the best chance for the honors at Donelson, but 
the 7th, 12th and 14th did nobly. 

I was talking today with Dr. Hughes, Surgeon General of this 
State, who was with me at Donelson. He has a brother in the same 
brigade your regiment was in at the capture of Donelson. He says he 
has just got a letter from his brother, who writes that the 12th Iowa is a 
splendid regiment and fought gallantly at Donelson. 



22 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Please write me when convenient. Let me advise you to care for 
your health. B )th you ani Coulter had the diarrhoea; it is dang-erous , 
and you should be careful. I was much pleased to see, on my short visit 
to your camp, that you were having it cleaned up nicely. Yours was the 
only regiment that was doing this. 

With many wishes for your health and success, I am 

Yours truly, 

Samuel J. Kirkwood. 

The Legislature of the State also passed joint resolu- 
tions as follows: 

JOINT RESOLUTION. 
Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of 
Iowa: 

First. That in the name of the whole people of the State, we thank 
the Iowa troops for their undaunted bravery and gallant conduct in the 
fight at Fort Donelson, in which, in the post of honor, they nobly sus- 
tained their own brilliant fame and won fresh and unfading laurels for 
the State. 

Second. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Colonel 
of each of the Iowa regiments engaged in the battle of Fort Donelson. 

Rush Clark, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(Signed) JOHN R. Needham, 

President of the Senate. 
Approved February 19, 1862. 

Samuel J. Kirkwood. 

State of Iowa, ss. 

I, Elijah Sells, Secretary of State, hereby certify that the fore- 
going is a true copy from the original enrolled Resolution on file in my 
office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
the great seal of the State of Iowa. 

Done at Des Moines this 20th day of February, 1862. 

(Signed) Elijah Sells 

We were unable to find General Smith's official report of 
the battle of Port Donelson. It is to be regretted that this 
gallant officer did not leave an official record of the part taken 
by his division and especially of that part he so nobly led * 



*[NoTK.— Pencil notes of a report was found amonsr General Smith's effects after his 
death, and are published in Serial No. 109 of War Records.] 



FOR T HENR Y AND FOR T D ONELSON 23 

The following are the official reports of Colonel Woods 
and Colonel Cook : 

CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON. 
Report of Colonel Woods. 



Headquarterb of Twelfth Iowa Infantry, ) 
FoKT DoNELsoN, February 18, 18fi2. ) 

Thomas J. Musiion, Assistant Adjutant General: 

Sir: — In obedience to Special Orders No. 2, Headquarters Second 
Division, Army in the field, Brigadier General Smith commanding, I 
have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the 
12th Iowa Infantry Volunteers, in the recent attack on Fort Donelson, 
Tenn.: 

On Wednesday, the 12th inst., the regiment being a part of Col. J. 
Cook's Brigade, 2d Division, marched from Fort Henry to the neigh- 
borhood of Fort Donelson, formed line of battle to the left of the Dover 
road, and slept on their arms ready for instant action. 

Thursday morning at half-past eight o'clock we marched down to 
and up the Dover road about a half mile, when we filed to the left and 
formed line of battle; threw forward the flanking companies as skir- 
mishers, and marched forward down a long slope that lay in front, the 
grape shot and shell of the enemy flying thick around us all the time. 
Our skirmishers advanced to the top of the hill that lay in front of us. 
The battalion halted at two-thirds of the distance to the top of the hill, 
where it was protected from the enemy's fire by the ridge in front. It 
was but a few minutes after our skirmishers reached the top of the ridge 
in front when Private Edward C. Buckner of Company A was shot dead, 
a ball taking effect in the eye. No farther damage occurred to the regi- 
ment that day, though the enemy kept up a constant fire. 

The following night was very stormy, and as we were ordered not to 
make fires the men suffered from the wet and cold. Early on Friday 
morning skirmishing began between our men and the enemy, which was 
kept up all day. During the day two of our men were struck with spent 
balls, but these did not disable them. At nightfall eight companies re- 
tired and built fires, but passed an unpleasant night. Companies D and 
F remained as a guard over the ground we had occupied during the day. 
Saturday, until noon, a random fire was kept up with the enemy. Dur- 
ing this and the preceding days we were nobly supported by the coolness, 
bravery and efficiency of a portion of Birge's Sharpshooters, who co- 



24 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 



\ 



operated with us. Out- I'igh^ Hank was protected by the 50th Illinois, 
Oolonel Bane commanding. Oar front and left flanks were unsupported, 
except by our own skirmishers and the Sharpshooters 

At about 2 o'clock P. M. Saturday, 15th. the 12th Iowa, 50th Illinois 
and Sharpshooters were ordered to make a feint attack to draw the 
enemy's fire. The men went cheerfully to the work assigned them, and 
kept up a warm fire on the enemy, while Colonel Lauman's brig-ade on 
our left advanced on the enemy and got possession of a part of the 
enemy's out works and hoisted the American flag thereon. We were 
then ordered to their support. We moved rapidly by the left flank, and 
charged over the down timber which the enemy had cut for its protec- 
tion. At this time a galling fire of grape from the enemy poured in 
among us, wounding eight or ten of our men. On reaching the breast- 
works, some confusion was caused by the retreat of a portion of Colonel - 
Lauman's brigade, who, having expended all their ammunition, were 
compelled to fall back. By some exertion our men were rallied, and we 
opened a warm fire on the enemy, who also poured a warm fire of grape 
upon us from their battery on our right, and of musketry on our front. 
In this cross-fire we fought the enemy two hours, advancing on the'n 
into a ravine inside their breastworks At length we wore withdrawn 
outside of the works. During this time we lost one man killed and 
twenty-seven wounded. 

During all this time Lieut. Col. Coulter behaved with the utmost 
coolness, and bravely performed his dut'es regardless of the danger to 
which he was exp')sed Major Brodtbeck and Sergeant Major Morrisy 
aided much in rallying the men. When we began to march to support 
Colonel Lauman, Companies A and G were out skirmishing. I dis- 
patched Adjt. Duncan to bring them up, which was speedily done, and 
he performed all other duties required of him pi'omptly and effectively. 
Surgeon Parker was on duty at ihe hospital. Assistant Surgeon Pinley 
performed faithful service in attending the wounded. Lieut. J. B. Dorr, 
(Q. M.) was performing his duty in forwarding supplies. His energy and 
efiBciency cannot be too highly praised. The color-bearer. Sergeant 
Grannis, showed much coolness amid the sharp fire of the enemy, and, 
without particularizing, every commissioned officer of the regiment per- 
formed his duties without flinching. The same may be said of the non- 
commissioned officers and privates with but few exceptions. 

The following is a list of the killed and wounded: 

Lieut. Col. Coulter, wounded in thigh, slightly. 

Co. A, Killed -E C. Buckner. Wounded -F. B. Reed, left hand, not 
severe. 

Co B, Killed — J. J. Stillman, shot in right temple. Wounded— Jos. 
Starts, left arm shattered and amputated; Henry S. Fry, shot through 



FOR T HENR Y AND FOR T DONELSON 25 

left ear and back ot head very severely, probably will not recover; Ser- 
geant J. P. Jackson, flesh wound in thigh; Private Jesse Thayer, left 
fore-finger shot off; Private Edwin W. Wood, injury very slight, spent 
ball; Private Wesley B Bort, injury very slight, side of head. 

Co. C, Wounded— 1st. Lt. D. B. Henderson, flesh wound under chin; 
Private W. B. Warner, shot in rig-ht thigh, severe, not dangerous; Pri- 
vate W. W. Quivey^ shot near the rignt ear, slight. 

Co. D, Wounded — Sergeant E. W. Calder, in right hip, severely, 
Private John W Rowan, left thumb shot off. 

Co. E, Wounded — Private E. A. King, right arm slightly, severely in 
right leg; Private Charles K. Switzer, in left cheek, slightly; Private 
S. J. Crowhurst, in right wrist, slightly. * 

Co. P, Wounded — Private Reuben C. Palmer, gash in head, left side, 
not severe; Private George Kent, gash in head, left side, not severe; 
Private James M. Taylor, in right shoulder; Private Michael Kirchner, 
cannon ball struck the works, throwing dirt out and injuring his eyeis 
and head. * 

Co. G, Wounded —Private Christian Christopheson, struck with 
spent ball; not severe. 

Co H, Wounded — Private A. J. Price, in right thigh, slight; Pri- 
vate John B. Flenniken, flesh wound in thigh. 

Co. I, Wounded— Private T. Eaton, end of thumb shot off; Private 
Patrick McMannis, in shoulder, not severe; Private Thomas J. Wilson, 
thigh bone shattered severely. 

Co. K, Wounded — Corporal Wm. Mathias, slight wound in hip; Pri- 
vate J. H. Johnson, in hand, slight. 

J. J. WOODS, Col. I2th Iowa Vols. 

REPORT OP COL. JOHN COOK, SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, 
COMMANDING THIRD BRIGADE. 



Headquarters Third Brigade, Second Division, \ 
Clarksville, Tenn., March 6, 1863. \ 

General,: In pursuance of orders from Division headquarters, I 
have the honor to submit the following report: 

-* * * Landing at Paducah, I reported to you; orders were re 
ceived assigning to the Third brigade the following regiment, viz.: 7th 
Illinois, 7th Iowa, 12th Iowa, i3th Missouri and 50th Illinois, with Capt. 
Richardson's battery of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery. * * * On 
the morning of February fi, this command left Camp Halleck, four miles 



[*NoTE— Company repcrts give Charles V. Surfus, Co. E, and Samuel Plattlnburg 
Co. F, wounded. 



26 T WELFTH RE GIMEN T lO WA IN FA N TR V. 

below Fort Heni^y, under orders of Brig -Gen. Grant, commanding Dis- 
trict of Cairo, to proceed, by land, to Fort Henry. A severe rain storm 
the night previous to our departure, together with the swollen state of 
streams, rendered the march extremely difficult, the troops suffering in- 
tensely from fording the numerous creeks, often wading so deep as 
almost to submerge their cartridge, boxes. But, inspired by frequent 
reports of artillery from the gunboats, the men pressed on cheerfully. 
Impeded by the almost impassable roads, and the necessity of assisting 
Captain Richardson s battery out of the innumerable mud holes the 
command proceeded slowly. 

About 2 P. M. I received orders from General Grant to advance the ' 
infantry without regard to the artillery. * ^ * Surmounting every 
obstacle, the infantry reached the out works of Fort Henry soon after 
retreat, when they encamped on the damp ground, much wearied, many 
without a single blanket, all transportation having been left in the 
morning. 

* * * On the 8th inst. four companies of infantry were sent to 
Camp Halleck, with ordt^rs to bring up the baggage left there. * * * 
On the 11th inst. the 7th Iowa volunteers was transferred from the 
brigade and the 52nd Indiana added. 

* * * Leaving Fort Henry at 8 o'clock A. M. the I2th inst. the 
command arrived within a mile and a half of Fort Donelson at 3 o'clock 
P. M.; distance marched twelve miles. 

The position assigned to my command was well chosen, being a high 
ridge of nearly one mile in length, and almost overlooking the enemy's 
works on his right. On the 13th at 8 o'clock A. M. I moved the com- 
mand up the Dover road to a point within one-half mile of the enemy's 
outer works, deployed skirmishers and advanced my line to the summit 
of a ridge overlooking the fort, a distance of nearly tiOO yards inter- 
vening, the immensity of the abatis covering the whole, precluding the 
possibility of proceeding farther but by an unwarranted destruction of life. 

This position gained, it was held during the night, the men resting 
on their arras without fires and without blankets, everything but arms 
and ammunition being cast aside on approaching the fort. 

On the 14th, after a long night of watching, the men shook the thick 
covering of snow fi-om their coats, partook of a meager breakfast and 
cheerfully resumed their old positions under the intrenchments. * * * 

Saturday, the 15th, after another night of snow and severe cold, the 
troops, suffering intensely, were permitted to fall back by companies, 
out of range of the enemy's guns, to cook their breakfast and thaw their 
frozen clothes. 

At 9 o'clock the 13th Missouri and 52nd Indiana were sent to fill a 
gap made by withdrawal of a portion of McArthur's brigade, leaving 



FORT HENRY AND FORT DONEL^ON 27 

only the 12th Iowa, 50th Illinois and one battalion of Birge's Sharpshoot- 
ers, to engage the enemy along a line half a mile in extent. 

At 2 P. M. orders came from General Smith to increase the number 
of skirmishers and more completely engage the enemy's attention while 
he in person, with Col. Lauman's brigade, stormed the works. 

The fortifications having been gained by General Smith, I asked 
permission to move my brigade forward and, if possible, take the 
enemy's batteries, which were pouring upon him a murderous fire of 
grape, canister and shell. 

Permission having been received, I proceeded over the abatis, under 
a heavy fire of grape and canister. The distance being short, the dis- 
charges caused but little damage, overshooting just enough to tear into 
shreds the colors. 

The enemy was driven to take cover under his inner intrenchments, 
giving us at a late hour full possession of his outer works, which we 
were instructed to hold during the night, and immediately prepare for a 
combined assault in the morning. At an early hour on Sunday morn- 
ing, the 16th, we partook of a scanty breakfast. Called to your head- 
quarters for directions as to formation of my command, and while the 
men were filling their boxes with cartridges, the woods around were 
made to ring with loud and enthusiastic cheers from the troops under 
the command of Col. Lauman and myself, announcing the surrender of 
Port Donelson. 

In compliance with your instruction, to allude to and particularize 
thosedeservingof commendation, it affords me much pleasure to mention 
the following officers, viz: * * * Colonel Woods and Major Brodtbeck, 
Twelfth Iowa; * * * and the following gentlemen of the medical 
staff * * * Dr. Pinley, Assistant Surgeon of the Twelfth Iowa. * * * 
Truth and justice require me to say that the entire command behaved 
in a manner deserving of approbation, cheerfully enduring the fatigue 
and exposure attendant upon the most inclement weather known to this 
latitude. 

I have the honor to be very respectfully your obedient servant, 

JOHN COOK, Col. Commanding Third Brigade. 
To Brig. Gen. C. P. Smith, Comdg. 2nd Div., Dist. West Tenn., U. S. A. 
Immediately upon the surrender of the fort the two 
brigades of Smith's division, that had been engaged in the 
attack which secured a lodgment in the works, were, as a 
special honor, designated to march first into the fort and oc- 
cupy it. The Twelfth participated in this honor, and, after 
taking possession, the men were occupied during the day in 



28 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

collecting and guarding prisoners, and atniglit were assigned 
quarters in log barracks, which had been erected by the con- 
federate garrison, inside the fortifications, and had been re- 
cently occupied by the 49th Tennessee, C. S. A. 

Details were made and sent back to Fort Henry to bring 
forward the camp and garrison equipage; others made it 
their first business to look after the comrades who had been 
left wounded or dead on the field. The wounded had been 
well cared for by the surgeons and nurses in a field hospital 
established just in the rear of our lines. These and the sick 
were brought in and put upon boats and sent away to Cairo 
and St. Louis, or, if able to travel, furloughed home. Of 
those killed, E. C. Buckner, Co. A, killed on the 13th, had 
been buried on the field where he fell. The only one killed 
on the 15th was John J. Stillman, Co. B. This soldier wa.s 
killed after the fighting was done and we had fallen back to 
a position outside the works, when he was struck in the eye 
by a rifle buUec, evidently fired at random from some retreat- 
ing rebel more than half a mile away. Stillman's body was 
brought in by his comrades, placed in a gun box and sent to 
his home in Waukon, Iowa! The arrival at this Northern 
home of the body of a soldier killed at Donelson excited 
much sympathy; large numbers of people from all parts of 
the county attended the funeral, and saw for the first time 
the only too frequent result of the hardships and dangers to 
which our soldiers were exposed. 

After the war was over G. A. R. Post No, 197 was organ- 
ized and named John J. Stillman, in honor of the first soldier 
from Allamakee county that was killed in battle. 

Most of the dead of both armies were buried on the field; 
the prisoners were collected and sent north under guard, and 
the army at once settled down to camp life. 

The barracks occupied by the Twelfth were each sup- 
plied with large "stick and mud" fireplaces in one end and 
bunks in the other, and were furnished with split log benches 
and "Dutch bake ovens," 



FOR T HENR Y AND FOR T DONELSON 29 

As some quartermaster, in the exercise of his first au- 
thority, had seen tit to direct the camp and garrison equipage 
of the regiment to be loaded upon boats and sent around by 
the way of the mouth of the Tennessee and up the Cumber- 
land, instead of allowing it to come the twelve miles across 
the country, it was not received until March 1. In the mean- 
time the warm barracks, were appreciated after the ex- 
perience of several days lying out in the cold rain and snow 
\^ithout shelter. The Dutch ovens afforded an excellent 
opportunity for the boys to exercise their culinary abilities 
in making corn bread from captured meal, and hot biscuit 
from flour which some of the messes succeeded in drawing. 
We are sure that the cooks, at least, remember their ex- 
perience in trying to bake enough in one small oven to 
appease the appetites of fifteen or sixteen hungry men, when 
the breakfast, dinner and supper hour overlapped each oiher 
and the biscuits were eaten as fast as baked, and the cook 
left without a ration at last. He was then often told that 
the high compliment of having them all eaten ought to be 
sufficient reward for his labors, and satisfaction for any but 
the most unreasonable appetite. 

The severe exposure to which the regiment has been 
subjected, together with the use of the water, which was 
said to contain sulphur, produced a scourge of diarrhoea, 
which afflicted nearly every member of the regiment and put 
a large number of them under the surgeon's care. The 
records will show a far larger number of total disabilities 
and deaths from the exposure at Fort Doiielson than was 
caused by rebel bullets. 

About the time of the Donelson campaign the army was 
reorganized (actual date of order Feb. 15, 1862). General 
Grant's command was designated as " Military District of 
Tennessee," and General Sherman was assigntd to the com- 
mand of " District of Cairo." 

On the 21st of February, 1862, by General Order No. 6, 
the 2nd, 7th, 12th and 14th Iowa regiments were brigaded 



30 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

together and designated as the First brigade, Col. Tuttle of 
the 2nd Iowa commanding; of the Second division, Brig.- 
Gen. C. F. Smith commanding; of the "Army of Ten- 
nessee,"* Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant commanding. These four 
regiments thus brought together at Donelson were after- 
wards known as "Hornets' Nest Brigade," and was the first 
brigade organized entirely of Iowa regiments. 

March 7, 1862, Smith's division left Fort Donelson and 
marched to Metal Landing on the Tennessee river, about 
four miles above Fort Henry. Although the distance 
marched was only about twelve miles it is remembered as 
one of the most trying ever made by the regiment, on 
account of the heavy load which each man carried, con- 
sisting of knapsack, overcoat, blanket, in fact, the com- 
plete outfit of all personal property, including arms and 
accoutrements. These heavy loads were never after that 
carried on the march; the knapsacks were discarded and the 
blanket, tightly rolled into the smallest and longest possible 
roll and the ends tied together so that it hung like a sash, 
over the shoulder and under the arm, was substituted as the 
marching outfit for all subsequent campaigns. The division 
remained in camp at Metal Landing until the 13th, when 
it was embarked on steamers for up the river, the 
Twelfth and the 1st Minnesota battery on board the "John 
Warner." The large number of horses and mules, together 
with the guns, wagons, etc., of the regiment and bat- 
tery, completely filled the lower deck and the men were 
crowded upon the guards. and upper deck. This gave very 
little opportunity to move around or exercise and none 
whatever for cooking rations. Coffee could only be made 

♦[Note— By General Order, dated March 11, I8e2. the Departments of Missouri, 
Kansas and Ohio, which inciudes the States of Ohio. Kentucky and Tennessee and all 
the territory west of them to the Kocky Mountains, were cousolldatea and called the De- 
partment of Mississippi, General Halleck commanding; and the three armies within that 
department were designated "Army of the Tennessee " "Army of the Ohio," and 
"Army of Mississippi." * * * General Grant, in his Memoirs, speaks of the Army of 
the Ohio, February 16 but makes no mention of the Army of Tennessee until March 17. 
Sherman says: '"In the middle of February, 1862, Halleck commanded the 'Army in 
Mississippi Valley,' 'Buell the Army of the Ohio, in Kentucky, and Grant the 'Army of 
the Tennessee' at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson." The official order of February 15, 
referred to above, assigned Grant to the command of "Military District of Tennessee."] 



FORT HENRY AND FORT DO NELSON 31 

by obtaining hot water from the boat's boilers. This crowd- 
ing made the trip up the river a very tedious one, and as it 
lasted seven days it became decidedly monotonous and un- 
comfortable. 

The fleet reached Pittsburg Landing on the 19 th of 
March. The regiment immediately disembarked and estab- 
lished a camp about one mile out and to the right of the 
landing. This camp formed the extreme right of the line 
and extended along a ridge facing nearly north; its right 
near the overflowed lands of the Tennessee river. A small 
stream, heading near the left flank of the regiment, flowed 
along the rear of the camp and emptied into a bayou only a 
little way to the right of the camp, affording abundance of 
pure water, and a dry ridge for the camp, giving all the 
requisites for a pleasant, healthful encamp meiit. 

Other troops, as they arrived, were encamped further to 
the left, forming a semi- circle around the landing, some in 
the cleared fields, others in the open woodland. In these 
pleasant camps the men rapidly recovered from the debili- 
tating effects of Port Donelson, and waited the concentration 
of Grant's army and its junction with Buell's, when the com- 
bined army was to march upon Corinth, where General 
Johnston had concentrated all the forces from the recently 
abandoned lines from Bowling Green to Columbus, and now 
had within supporting distance an army of 60,000 men. 

To meet this force General Halleck had ordered the con- 
centration of the commands of Generals Grant and Buell at 
Pittsburg Landing, and had advised General Buell that he 
{Halleck) would leave St. Louis in the beginning of the next 
week and come to the front to assume immediate personal 
command of the armies, and move against Corinth. 

General Johnston did not, however, choose to wait the 
pleasure of General Halleck but determined to interfere with 
the arrangement by attacking the force at Pittsburg Land- 
ing before the very leisurely marches of Gen. Buell's army 
should bring it in conjunction with Grant. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Just Before the Battle,— Pittsburg Landing,- 

March 1862. 



We take up the history of the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
or Shiloh, with some hesitation, for -we realize that this was 
one of the most decisive battles of the war, and was fought 
with more desperate stubbornness than any battle of modern 
times; yet it has been, as General Grant puts it, "more per- 
sistently misunderstood than any other engagement of the 
war. " 

The Twelfth Iowa w^as particularly unfortunate in being 
misrepresented, and to this day some "would-be historians" 
who claim to be writing from the record have persisted in 
recording it as a fact, "that the Twelfth Iowa belonged to 
Prentiss' Division" and, that "Prentiss' Division was sur- 
rounded and captured early on the morning of April 6, 
many of them having been taken while asleep in their tents." 
Neither of these statements has the least foundation in 
facts; they were originally based upon untruthful and 
hastily written reports of the battle, made for a northern 
newspaper, by a reporter who surely was not on the battle 
field, and likely had never been any nearer than Cairo. Yet 
this report has been accepted as true and incorporated into 
some works called histories, when the most casual reference 
to official records would have proven both statements 
untrue. 

Members of the regiment have been, during all the 
years since 1862, confronted with these statements and often 
with an intimation, at least, that their memories were badly 
at fault, when they have denied the story; because, forsooth 



JUST BEFORE THE B ATTLE— PITTSBURG LANDING 33 

"History says that the Twelfth Iowa was captured in the 
morning." (No longer ago than January 1892. In a paper 
read, before the Loyal Legion of Illinois the writer went out 
of his way to speak of Shiloh as a terrible "surprise and 
disaster in which a whole division was captured while 
sleeping in their tents, etc." "The moral with which he 
adorns the tale" is all right, but the misstatement of facts 
can hardly be excused even when he afterwards says that 
"he was too young to be in the service at that time.") 

It shall be the aim of the writer in this and the succeed- 
ing chapter to present the correct record of the part taken 
by the regiment in said battle and give some of the evi- 
dences, easily obtained by any student of history, to prove 
the statements made. 

Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennesse river, nine miles 
above Savannah and twenty-three miles north-east from 
Corinth, had been selected by Gen. C. P. Smith, in pursuance 
of authority given him by Gen. Halleck, as the point at which 
to assemble the army for an attack upon Corinth. It was 
simply a steamboat landing, consisting of a few sheds for 
storing cotton and other products awaiting shipment, and 
two or three log houses formerly occupied by those employed 
about the landing. 

Lick creek above the landing and Snake creek below it, 
empty into the Tennessee about three miles apart, the land- 
ing being nearer the mouth of Snake creek. 

Lick creek rises in a swamp about eleven miles from the 
landing and flows nearly northeast to the river. Another 
stream of considerable size, called Owl creek, rises about 
six or seven miles out and flows nearly parallel to Lick 
creek at a distance from it varying from three to five miles, 
and empties into Snake creek, from its southern side, about 
a mile above its mouth. All of these streams flow through 
swampy valleys skirted by abrupt high banks on either side. 
The land between Owl and Lick creek, extending back for 
several miles from the river, is a rolling plateau, about 



34 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

eighty or one hundred feet above the river level, and of 
nearly uniform height along its center, but cut somewhat by 
ravines and swamps near the creeks and by occasional 
smaller streams flowing into the creeks. In 1862 this whole 
tract, except a few fields of forty or fifty acres each, was 
covered w^ith timber, and in some places with dense under- 
growth. 

Along the center of the dividing ridge or highest land 
between the creeks ran the main road to Corinth. 

Upon this plateau, protected on either side by almost 
impassable creeks, General Smith had encamped his army 
about the middle of March to await the arrival of General 
Buell. Bis forces consisted of his own division, commanded 
by Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, the divisions of Sherman, Mc- 
Clernand and Hurlbut, at Pittsburg Landing, and the divi- 
sion of Lew. Wallace at Crump's Landing six miles down the 
river. Subsequently, about April 1, General Prentiss had 
been assigned to command a division to be organized from^ 
new troops that were then arriving at the front, only seven 
regiments for this division had reported previous to April 6, 
the division was therefore only partially organized when the 
battle commenced on Sunday morning. 

When the concentration of the forces at Pittsburg Land- 
ing was ordered by General Halleck, General Grant w^as 
left in command at Fort Henry. He was not relieved from 
that command until March 17, when he was ordered to 
Savavnah to assume command cf the forces in the vicinity 
of Pittsburg Landing. In the meantime General Smith, 
commanding at Pittsburg Landing, had received an injury 
in the leg which did not appear to be serious at first but 
became so aggravated by the end of March that he was 
obliged to go to a hospital at Savannah, leaving his division 
in command of Brig -Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. This disability 
of Smith left Gen. Sherman senior officer present at Pitts- 
burg Landing. 

About two and one-half miles out from the landing, on 



JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE— PITTSBURG LANDING 35 

the Corinth road, stood a log church called Shiloh. Jast ia 
rear of bhe church three brigades of Sherman's division were 
encamped, the right resting on Owl creek, Stuart's brigade 
detached to guard the mouth of Lick creek. At Sherman's left 
and somewhat to his rear, McClernand's division had formed 
its camps, and still further to the left, covering the fords of 
Lick creek, was Prentiss' division; Hurlbut's division in 
reserve near the landing, and Smith's division, now com- 
manded by W. H. L. Wallace, also iu reserve naar Snake 
creek, in position to support Lew. Wallace at Crumps Land- 
ing or either of the other divisions at the front. 

The five divisions of the army encamped at Pittsburg 
Landing were organized as follows, to-wit: 

1st division. Gea. MeClernand; tliree brigades and tliree batteries. 

1st brigade, Colonel Hare of the llth Iowa commanding 4 regiments 

2d brigade. Col. Marsh of the 2nth Illinois commanding 4 " 

3d brigade. Col. Ross of the 17th Illinois commanding 4 " 

2nd division, Gen. W. H. L. Wallace; three brigades and four batteries. 

1st brigade Col. Tattle of the 2d Iowa commanding 4 regiments 

2d brigade. Brig. Gen.McArthur commanding 5 " 

3d brigade. Col. Sweeny of the ,52d Illinois commanding 6 " 

4th division. Gen. Hurlbut: three brigades and three batteries. 

1st brigade, Col. Williams of the Sd Iowa commanding t regiments 

2d brigade, Col. Veatch of the 25th Indiana commanding 4 " 

3d brigade. Brig. Gen. Lauman commanding 4 

5th division. Gen. Sherman; four brigades and three batteries. 

1st brigade, Col. McDowell of the 6th Iowa commandiii-r 3 regiments 

2d brigade, Col. Stuart of the 55th Illinois commanding 3 " 

3d brigade. Col. Hlldebrand of the 77th Ohio commanding 3 " 

4th brigade, Col. Bueliland of the 72d Ohio commanding 3 " 

6th division. Gen. Prentiss; two brigades and two batteries. 

1st brigade. Col. Peabody of the 25th Missouri commanding 4 regiments 

2d brigade. Col. Miller of the I8th Missouri commanding 3 " 

Not brigaded 3 " 

Total— 15 batteries and 61 regiments on the field. 

The batteries were under the command of the division 
commanders, and were not assigned to separate brigades ex- 
cept temporarily. 

The three regiments, assigned to the Sixth division, but 
not brigaded, arrived during the first day of the battle, and 
were engaged in the fight; one of them with its division; two 
with the First division. 

The total fighting strength of Grant's army, as shown 



36 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

by the official morning reports of regiments, made April 5, 
1862, was: present for duty, officers and men: — 

1st division, General McClernand commanding 6,941 

2d " Gen. W. H. L. Wallace " 8,408 

3d " Gen. Lew Wallace '■ 7,564 

4th " Gen, Hurlbut '• 7,825 

5th " Gen. Sherman " 8.580 

6th " Gen. Prentiss ' 7,545 

Unassigned 531 

Total 47,394 

Deducting Lew. Wallace's division at Crump's Landing, not pres- 
ent at Shlloh the first day 7,564 

Leaves the total of Grant's army present for duty April 6 at Shiloh. .39,830 
This includes teamsters, musicians, hospital attendants surgeons, 
chaplains, etc., all non-combatants as well as fighting men being in- 
cluded in our " present for duty " 

Some people, in estimating the strength of armies, have 
attempted to eliminate the non-combatants from the fighting 
force. We think that they are an essential factor of the army 
and as necessary to its success as the men who carried the 
muskets; that the teamster who drove the ammunition wagon 
to the front was aiding the fight as much as the man who 
fired the gun; that the surgeon and hospital attendant, and 
the musician carrying a stretcher, were equally necessary and 
should be counted as part of the working force. They have 
been included in all our estimates, both of Union and Con- 
federate forces. 

Under the regulations of the Union army in force in 
April 1862, there were about fifty non-combatants with each 
infantry regiment, eighty with each cavalry regiment and 
ten with each battery. 

General Grant, in his memoirs, says that his army at 
Shiloh was composed of 33,000 effective men. Doubtless he 
leaves the non-combatants out of the count. 

General Johnston, commanding the Confederate forces at 
Corinth, concentrated all available men and moved out of 
Corinth Thursday, April 3 with aa army of 43,968 men. He 
telegraphed to Mr. Davis, when the movement began, that 



JUST BEBORE 7 HE BATTLE— PITTSBURG LA A' DING 37 

he had "40,000 effective men''' The official returns, made 
by his order, shows number of men that marched from 
Corinth, April 3, 1862, reported by regiments, to have been 
an aggregate of 49,444, as follows: Infantry, 44,159; artil- 
lery, 2,353; cavalry, 2,932. 

The report expressly states the enumeration to be of 
men who '''Marched from Corinth." It is to be presumed 
that ail were fit for duty, or they would have been left in 
camp at Corinth, but we find that 7,956 — about one-sixth of 
the army — were reported "sick." Excluding all these, we 
still have present for duty, April 3, 41,488. 

To this number must be added those who joined John- 
ston between the 3rd and the 6th. None of the following 
organizations were 'ncluded in the report of April 3, but all 
of them were present and participated in the battle of April 
6, as shown by the official reports of their commanding 
officers, viz. : Texas Rangers, 1st Alabama cavalry, 1st Mis- 
sissipjii cavalry, Forrest's cavalry, Wirt Adams' cavalry, 
Roberts' battery, McClung's battery. 

A very careful study of all the data to be found in the 
Record office of the War Department, compared with the 
statements and estimates of William Preston Johnston, as 
published in his " Life of General Albert Sidney Johnston," 
and making allowance for the regiment, two battalions and 
one battery left on guard at Corinth, fixes the "present for 
duty," officers and men, of the Confederate army engaged at 
Shiloh April 6, 1862, at 43,968, and Grant's army at 39,830, as 
before stated. 

The proportion is maintained in the number of regiments 
and batteries engaged. Grant had 61 regiments of infantry 
and 15 batteries on the field; Johnston had 76 regiments of 
infantry and 21 batteries. 

The Confederate force was organized into corps, divi - 
sions and brigades as follows: 

1st corps. Maj. Gen. L.Polk commaQding; two divisious of two brigades each. 
1st division. Brig. Gen. Cliarles Clarlt. 



38 



TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 



1st brigade, Col. R. M. Russell \ 

2d '• Brig. Gen. A. P. Stewart 4 

2d division, Maj. Gen. B. F. Clieathani. 

1st brigade, Brig. Gen. B. R. Johnson 4 

2d " Col. \V. H. Slepheus 4 

2d corps, Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg; two divisions of three brigades eacli. 

1st division, Brig. Gen. Daniel Kuggles. 

1st brigade. Col. R. L. Gilison 4 

2d '• Brig. Gen. Patton Anderson 4I3 

3d " Col. Preston Pond, Jr 4^3 

2d division. Brig. Gen. J. M. Withers. 

1st brigade. Brig. Gen. A. H. Gladden .5 

3d " Britf. Gen. J. R Chalmers G 

3d •' Brig. Gen. J. K. Jackson 4 

3d corps. Maj. Gen. W.J. Hardee; three brigades (not organized into 

divisions, but in some of the reports tlie 1st and 2d brigades 

are designated as "Hindman's division"). 

1st brigade, Col. R. G. Shaver.. 5 

2d •' Brig. Gen. P. R. Cleburne 6 

3d " Brig. Gen. S. A. M. Wood G^:, 

Reserve corps, Brig. Gen. John C. Breckinridge; three brigades. 

l=t brigade. Col. R. P. Trabue 4=3 

2d •' Brig. Gen. J. S, Bowen t 

3d " Col. AV. S. Stratham 6 



reg. 



reg. 



1 batterj* 
1 

1 
1 



1 battery 
1 
1 " 

1 batterj; 

1 

1 



2 batter's 

3 " 

1 battery 

2 batter's 
2 

1 battery 



Total number of regiments and batteries 76 



21 



Johnston's orders when he left Corinth required his 
columns to be "deployed in line of battle ready to attack 
the Union forces at Pittsburg Landing- at 7 o'clock A. M. 
Saturday morning, and to begin the attack promptly at 8 
o'clock." His movements were delayed, however, and his 
army was not all deployed in line until 4 o'clock P. M. Satur- 
day, too late for an attack that day. Johnston therefore 
ordered his army to bivouac in line of battle and to attack 
next day at daylight. 

The Confederate army was deployed in three parallel 
lines one thousand yards apart, Hardee's corps in the front 
line, Bragg's corps in the second line, and Polk's corps and 
Breckinridge's corps in the third line, or reserve. Hardee's 
line being too short to occupy all the space from Owl creek 
fco Lick creek, Gladdens brigade from Bragg's corps was 
moved to Hardee's right. The line thus formed extended 
from one creek to the other in the following order of brig- 



I 



JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE— PITTSBURG LANDING 39 

ades from rio^ht to left: Gladden's, Shaver's, Wood's, Ck 
burne's. 

During the advance from Corinth there had been somc*_ 
skirmishing with our pickets and one of our outposts had 
been captured by the enemy's cavalry on Friday, the 4th. 

Reconnoitering parties had been sent out on Saturday 
from each of the divisions of Lew. Wallace, McClernand, 
Sherman and Prentiss, and each of these parties had en- 
countered cavalry, which was easily driven off. One of the 
parties pursued the cavalry to near Mickey's, six miles out 
from the landing, where they came in view of artillery sup- 
ported by infantry. They were fired upon by the artillery, 
and, after a slight skirmish, returned to camp, bringing in 
ten prisoners. 

Gen. Cheatham, C. S. A., reported this affair as "an 
attack upon his advance." Gen. Sherman, reporting the 
same to Gen. Grant April 5, said: "I infer that the enemy is 
in some considerable force at Pea Ridge. Yesterday they 
crossed a brigade, consisting of two regiments of infantry, 
one of cavalry and a battery of field artillery, to the Corinth 
road, where they halted about five miles in my front and sent 
the cavalry down towards my camps where they captured an 
outpost; to-day our cavalry drove them back upon their 
artillery and infantry, killing many, and bring in ten prison- 
ers, whom I send you." 

None of these reconnoitering parties seem to have de- 
veloped the enemy in force, but all were of the opinion that 
they had met the scouting parties of the enemy. General 
Prentiss, however, was suspicious and strengthened his 
pickets and notified his brigade commanders to be ready for 
a night attack, and about 3 o'clock Sunday morning he sent 
out three companies to reconnoiter. This party struck a 
vidette post of the enemy and drove it back to its reserve, 
which consisted of a battalion of the 3rd Mississippi, com- 
manded by Major Hardcastle. This reserve was only one- 
quarter of a mile in advance of Hardee's main line, and the 



40 r WELFTH REGIMEN T 10 WA IN FA N TR Y. 

first firing noted by Gen. Johnston, at this post, was at five 
minutes before 5 o'clock. 

Major Hardcastle reports: "About dawn the enemy, 
about 1,000 strong, drove in my pickets and opened a heavy 
*ire on us at a distance of 200 yards. We returned the fire ^i 
and fought the enemy an hour without giving an inch. Our l' 
loss was four killed, one sergeant and nine privates wounded. 
At about 6:30 I saw the brigade formed in my rear and fell 
back." 

Hardee says: " My forces were attacked at early dawn;" 
and Gen. Beauregard says that he advised against continuing i 
the attack on Sunday morning, "because it was evident that l 
a surprise was now impossible." 

At 6 o'clock Gen. Prentiss sent Col. Moore with his 
regiment, the 21st Missouri, to support the pickets. About 
half a mile from camp Col. Moore met the reconnoitering 
party returning. He, however, continued his advance about 
300 yards, when he met the rebel advance and repulsed it; 
being reinforced, he held his position half an hour, when he 
was obliged to fall back to the support of his brigade. 

In his official report Gen. Bragg, commanding the second 
line, says: "After marching less than a mile beyond the 
scene of the first attack made upon Major Hardcastle our line 
encountered the National outposts. These fell back fighting. 
The army advanced another mile, pushing back the fighing 
pickets, and then encountered the National troops in strong 
force along almost the entire line. His batteries were posted 
on eminences, with strong infantry supports. Finding the 
first line was now unequal to the work before it, being weak- 
ened by extension, and necessarily broken by the nature of 
the ground, I ordered my whole force to move up speedily 
and promptly to its support." Col. J. Thompson, aid-de- 
camp to Gen. Beauregard, in his report, says: " The first 
cannon was discharged on our left at 7 o'clock, which was 
followed by a rapid discharge of musketry. About 7:30 I 
rode forward to see how the battle was going and learned 



JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE— PITTSBURG LANDING 41 

that Gen. Hardee's line was within half a mile of the camps." 
These facts, from official reports, show that two hours 
and a quarter after the first shots were fired on the picket 
line, the advance line of the rebel army was still one-half 
mile from our camps, and that the time (7:30) must have been 
at least an hour and a half after the usual time for revielle, 
and are conclusive that Gen. Prentiss was not surprised in 
camp, and that none of our forces were without at least two 
hours' 7iotice of the approach of the enemy; and also show 
conclusively that the picket line had made such resistance 
that the first and second lines of the Confederate army had 
been compelled to consolidate before their first attack was 
made upon our line of battle, which they found "drawn up 
in regular order at a position just in front of Shiloh church," 
entirely outside of any of our camps. * 

The battle commencing near this church gave it the 
name "Battle of Shiloh" in all the Confederate reports, 
while the Union army, at first, designated it as "Pittsburg 
Landing"; later all have concurred in the name Shiloh. 



[* Not K,— General Hardee, C. S. A., says Prentiss' camp was carried at S o'clock A 
M. Col. Adams, commanding Gladden's brigade, C. S. A., says 8:30, and Gen. Sherman 
says about 9 A. M. Will any one believe ttiat any of Prentiss' men were still sleeping in 
in tlieir tents at 8:30 with their comrades fighting since 5:30 ?] 



1 



CHAPTER V. 

Battle of Shiloh — April 6, 1862. 

" Hark to that roar, whose swift and deafening- peals 
In countless echoes through the mountains ring-, 
Startling pale midnight on her starry throne! 
Now swells the intermingling din; the, jar, 
Frequent and frightful of the bursting bomb! 
The falling beam, the shriek, the groan, the shout 
The ceaseless clangor, and the rush of men 
Inebriate with rage; —loud and more loud 
The discord grows, till pale death shuts the scene, 
And o'er the conqueror and the conquered 
Draws his cold and bloody shroud." 

Sunday, April 6, 1862, dawned bright and balmy on the 
Army of the Tennessee. Revielle had sounded at the usual 
hour in the camp of the Twelfth Iowa; breakfast had been 
eaten at the usual time, and the men were busily preparing 
for Sunday morning inspection. So w^arm and pleasant was 
the morning that many were enjoying the opportunity of a 
bath in the creek behind the regimental camp. The men had 
not been ignorant of the condition of affairs in front. The 
artillery firing on Friday, as before mentioned, had been dis- 
tinctly heard. An extra supply of ammunition and crackers 
were issued to the regiment Friday night and distributed to 
the men after "taps," with instructions to put them in 
haversacks and to keep cartridge boxes and haversacks full 
and ready for an attack. The reports of the reconnoissance 
had been circulated, no one knows how, but in such manner 
that nearly every private knew something about the facts of 
the case, and, with the privilege which every soldier has re- 
served to himself, each had formed his opinion in regard to 
the prospect of a general attack being made, and had freely 
criticised or approved the opinion of everybody else. It 
therefore created no particular surprise when quite early in 



BA TTL E OF SHIL OH -43 

the mornino', rumors of skirmishing at the front began to 
float into camp, and even when the first boom of artillery was 
heard it was suggested that another reconnoissance was be- 
ing made, and few, if any, thought it serious until nearly 8 
o'clock, when the regular rapid discharges of artillery con- 
vinced even the most skeptical that full batteries were en- 
gaged and that 

" The terrible grumble and rumble and roar 
Told that battle was on once more." 

The men had received these convincing impressions, as 
it were by intuition, and had hurried to camp from various 
excursions upon which they had gone, and nearly all had 
their guns in their hands and cartridge boxes on, when the 
long roll was sounded on the regimental parade ground, and 
within a very few moments thereafter the whole regiment 
was in line and soon joined the balance of the brigade as all 
hurried rapidly to the front. The brigade was commanded 
by Col. J. M. Tuttle, the division by Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. 
These troops had hardly reached the main Corinth road 
when they were met by broken columns from the front with 
the discouraging reports, always floating to the rear of an 
army engaged in battle, " We are all cut to pieces;" "This is 
all that is left of our regiment," etc., coupled with the fur- 
ther information that the rebels were in close pursuit and 
that everything was surely lost. 

At a point one and one-half miles out from the landing 
the Corinth road forked; the right hand branch, called main 
or western road, runs by Shiloh church; the left hand branch, 
called "Eastern Corinth road," and in some Confederate re- 
ports "Bark road," runs south of the church and intersects 
the Lick creek or Bark road. A little beyond the forks the 
main road crosses a branch of Briar creek, which, having 
its source half a mile beyond, flows northerly into Snake 
creek. The eastern road also crosses a hollow or slight 
ravine and rises again on a ridge beyond to about the 



44 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

same level. Coming to the crest of this ridge and occupying 
all the space between the two roads was a cleared field of 
about thirty or forty acres, nearly square, surrounded by a 
rail fence and bisected by the branch of Briar creek, before 
mentioned, running through it from west to east. On the 
northeast side of this field was an old abandoned road, run- 
ning across from the main road to the Hamburg road, cross- 
ing the eastern road at right angles; this road, which had 
formerly been the Purdy and Hamburg stage road, had been 
worn down and washed out until in places there were decided 
banks of a foot or more in height. On the south side of the 
field, to the left of the eastern road, the land was covered 
with timber and thick underbrush. Marching his brigade by 
the eastern road, when the head of the column reached this 
field Col. Tuttle discovered the enemy in the woods beyond, 
and immediately formed his brigade in line of battle along 
the old road, behind the field fence, in the following order 
from left to right: 14th Iowa, 12th Iowa, 7th Iowa and 2nd 
Iowa, his right on the western Corinth road, his left extend- 
ing across the eastern road and into the timber beyond the 
field, so that the 14th and about three companies of the 12th 
were in the timber wath thick underbrush in front; the 
balance of the brigade had the open field in front. The line 
thus formed faced south of west and at right angles to the 
Corinth roads. Richardson's battery of artillery was sta- 
tioned in the rear of the 12th and Stone's battery near the 
forks of the road. A little later, as the 14th Iowa's left was 
" in air," that regiment was swung back until it found shelter 
in a ravine just back of the road, in a position where the men 
were well protected but had a perfect range to the front. 
The balance of Wallace's division was scattered; three 
regiments of Sweney's brigade went into line at the right 
of Tuttle's brigade; the 8th Iowa of that brigade was sent 
to Prentiss. Two regiments of Mc Arthur's brigade were left 
to guard the bridge across Snake creek, one regiment was 
sent to Sherman, and McArthur himself, with his two remain- 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 45 

iog regiments, was sent to the extreme left of the line. Wal- 
lace therefore formed line of battle, with only eight regi- 
ments in line and without reserve, at the very center of the 
field, acknowledged to be the key to the position, and there 
awaited the onset of the flashed and victorious rebel army. 

Now let us see how matters had progressed at the front. 
As soon as Gen. Prentiss discovered, by the firing in front, 
that his reconnoitering party had become engaged, he sent the 
whole of Peabody's brigade to their assistance and formed 
Miller's brigade upon an open field in advance of its camp. 
Both brigades were soon driven back through their encamp- 
ments, and at 9 A. M. the enemy had possession of Prentiss' 
camp ; our outer line was broken, and the left flank of Sher- 
man's line, in front of Shiloh church, was exposed. Sher- 
man's division at that time, like that of Prentiss, was com- 
posed entirely of raw recruits; no part of either division had 
ever been engaged in battle. It is a very easy matter, at this 
time, to look back to that April morning of 1862 and criticise 
the officers in command and tell what ought to have been 
done. So if we were to point out, with our present knowl- 
edge, one of the errors made, it would be that of camping 
the troops with the raw or untried regiments on the front 
line and all the veterans in reserve; but would we have seen 
it in that light before the battle ? Gen. Grant says that he 
expected that if the enemy made an attack on his army it 
would be on Lew. Wallace at Crump's Landing, and he had 
directed W. H. L. Wallace to hold himself in readiness to 
march to the assistance of Lew. Wallace, should he be 
attacked; so we find that the divisions of W. H. L. Wallace 
and Hurlbut were in the right place to be quickly thrown to 
the most exposed position on either front where an attack 
should be made. Again,* if there is a chance to criticise any 
one for the manner in which the troops were camped at Pitts- 
burg Landing, who should bear the responsibility? Gen. 
Smith had selected the camp. Indeed we can hardly say he 
selected it, for Gen. Halleck, commanding the Department of 



46 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Mississippi, had declared his intention to assume, in a few 
days, personal command of the army in the field, and was 
directing all movements with that end in view. He had sent 
the chief engineer of his staff, Col. McPherson, to accom- 
pany the expedition, thereby, in fact, controlling the whole 
matter. He had also directed Gen. Grant to remain at Fort 
Henry, and it was only when Smith had been injured and 
disabled for the command, and several days after the estab- I 
lishment of the camp, that Grant was, by Halleck's order, 
directed to take command of "the forces at Pittsburg and 
await the arrival of Buell.'' However, Sherman's and Pren- 
tiss' divisions of raw troops, a total of 16,000 men, were the 
first to meet the attack of the combined Confederate army, 
drawn up in double line of battle, stretching across the 
whole space from one creek to the other, 44,000 strong. 

Sherman says: "About 8 A. M. I saw the glistening 
bayonets of heavy masses of infantry to our left front in the 
woods, and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy 
designed a determined attack." He had made the best dis-' 
position possible of his forces and held his ground stubbornly 
for a time, but it was impossible to stem the tide of that 
tremendous onslaught, and his division, like that of Pren- 
tiss, was forced back. It is not strange that most of Pren- 
tiss' division went to pieces here, when we remember that 
four of his six regiments had been fighting and retreating for 
three hours and had been entirely powerless to check the ad- 
vance. Neither is it strange that several of Sherman's regi- 
ments were demoralized and that a whole brigade, having 
received the attack in flank and fighting an unequal battle, 
was panic stricken by the rush and went to the rear; this 
was the case with Hildebrand's brigade, which gave way when 
the first line was broken, and was not in line again, as a brig- 
ade, during the day. It was these demoralized forces that had 
met Wallace's men on their way to the front with their ter- 
rible accounts of disaster. McClernand's division, a little to 
Sherman's left and rear, fell back with Sherman, leaving 



BATTLE OF SHI LOH 47 

the enemy in full possession of the first line and all the 
camps of three divisions of the army. Some of these troops 
had made temporary stands, by regiments or brigades, at 
points of vantage as they fell back and had done splendid 
fighting, but no general stand was made until they reached 
the line established by Wallace, when McClernand formed to 
his right and Sherman prolonged the line to Owl creek. 
Prentiss formed the few men he had savfed from the wreck, 
not over 1,000 in all — parts of four regiments — at the left of 
Wallace, facing nearly' south, so that his line was very 
nearly at right angles to that of the other portions of the 
line. Hurlbut formed his division also facing south and ex- 
tended the line parallel to Lick creek, well down towards the 
river. As Prentiss' broken division did not fill all the space 
between Wallace and Hurlbut. the 8th Iowa, from Sweney's 
brigade, was put in at the left of the 14th low^a, thus connect- 
ing Wallace's and Prentiss' divisions. This detached the 
8th Iowa from its brigade and division, and while it was not 
attached to Prentiss, he seems to have assumed command 
over it as he rightfully would while it was operating with 
him, and that regiment became identified with Prentiss' divi- 
sion, in some of the reports, particularly in those of the 
capture. 

The second regular line as thus formed extended in a 
semi-circle, or, more correctly, on two sides of a square, 
from Owl creek southward across the Corinth roads, thence 
eastward to near the Tennessee river, the angle being at the 
point where Prentiss' division connected with Hurlbut's 
division. At about 9:30 o'clock every regiment and battery 
of the army that had not lost its organization was in position 
on this line of battle, and General Grant at that hour made 
a personal inspection of the field. Colonel Woods and 
General Prentiss both report his approval of their part of 
the line, and that he directed them to hold the angle at all 
hazards. 

Wallace had not completed his line — Tuttle only being 



48 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

in position — when he was attacked by three brigades of the 
enemy that were following the broken division of Prentiss as 
it fell back from its camp. The attacking force consisted of 
Gladden's brigade — now commanded by Colonel Adams — 
with Shaver's brigade on its left and Gibson's brigade in 
reserve. Gladden's men advanced with great confidence 
through the timber upon the 12th and 14th Iowa until they 
were within a few paces of our line, when they encountered 
such a blaze of fire from the sunken road that they faltered, 
then fell back to the shelter of a ravine, where they remained 
out of the fight for the rest of the day. As Gladden's men 
recoiled, an advance was ordered by the 14th Iowa and left 
wing of the 12th Iowa, which followed the retreating enemy 
until the reserve line was struck and routed, when our line 
fell back to its place in the sunken road. Shaver's advance 
was directly across the open field; and, although supported 
by two batteries in Review field, he was unable to make head- 
way against the point blank range of Tuttle's center, and 
soon drew off his force by a left wheel and attacked Mc- 
Clernand's left. 

General Bragg now assumed command of the Con- 
federate forces in this vicinity, and at once brought up 
General Cheatham, with Stephens' brigade, to attack this 
position. Cheatham commenced the attack with artillery 
fire, lasting nearly an hour, and then ordered a charge 
directly across the field in Tuttle's front. This force suc- 
ceeded in reaching the center of the field, where it was met 
by a cross-fire that it was unable to withstand; fell back and 
moved to the right to join General Breckinridge. Hindman's 
division, consisting of eleven regiments and two batteries, 
was next ordered to move against this position — which the 
Confederates had named the "Hornets' Nest." This strong 
force was put in motion, but before becoming fairly engaged 
Hindman was wounded and Gen. A. P. Stewart assigned to 
the command. Stewart at once attached a part of his own 
brigade to Shaver's brigade; placed himself at their head. 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 49 

and gallantly led them into the same open field, against that 
fatal fire, only to see them utterly routed, Shaver's brigade 
falling back to Prentiss' camp, where it remained inactive 
until 3 o'clock. General Bragg then ordered Gibson with 
his brigade to carry the position. IJis fresh column ' ' formed 
with left to the Bark road" (Eastern Corinth) and charged 
gallantly, but the deadly musketry from the sunken road and 
rail fence mow^ed down his ranks, and he fell back discomfited. 
Bragg ordered him to charge again. Once more his deter- 
mined men struggled through the underbrush and along the 
edge of the field, but, scorched by that withering tire, again 
fell back. Bragg was not satisfied, and, calling the regi- 
mental commanders of the brigade together, he represented 
to thetn the importance of the position and the necessity of 
its immediate capture, and disregarding the protests of all 
four of the regimental commanders, ' ' that it was a needless 
sacrifice," and refusing to listen to Gibson's request for 
artillery to supplement his attack, he again ordered the ad- 
vance, and the third time Gibson led his command against 
that inexorable line of fire, and again was compelled to see 
his men repulsed and utterly routed from the field. Colonel 
Allen of the 4th Louisiana, one of the regiments of Gibson's 
brigade, then rode back to Bragg and repeated the request 
for artillery to assist them. General Bragg replied: "Colonel 
Allen, I want no faltering now." Allen, stung by the reply, 
returned to his regiment and led it and the brigade in the 
most desperate dash of all up to the very muzzles of Tuttle's 
guns but could not move the impenetrable wall of fire from 
the position assigned it, and Gibson's fourth charge, more 
persistent and consequently more destructive than the rest, 
was repulsed, and he retired with the fragment of his 
command that was not left strewn upon the field, and Gib- 
son's brigade was out of the fight for that day. Supplement- 
ing these charges by Gibson, Hindman's old brigade— now 
commanded by Colonel Shaver —had for the third time been 
led across that fatal field and into the underbrush in Tuttle's 



L 



50 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

front, to be once more shattered by the deadly fire and driven 
to the rear. It is at least worthy of note that in this conflict 
three brigades had been entirely disorganized by these re- 
peated charges against Tattle's single brigade, and that the 
official reports show that thirteen regiments lost their regi- 
mental organizations in this conflict and were not brought 
into the fight again as regiments during the day. They un- 
doubtedly helped to swell the crowd of demoralized soldiers 
at the Confederate rear mentioned by General Bragg. 

During all the time occupied by these several charges, 
Hickenlooper's battery, at Tattle's left, and Munch's battery, 
near the corner of the field, where the 12th and 14th joined, 
had been able to sweep the front, dealing destruction along 
the lines of the enemy at every advance, and had become one 
of the objective points of all these various attacks. Bragg 
states in his report that he recognized this place as the key 
to the Federal position, and that he concentrated all the 
forces available to take it and failed . 

While the desperate fighting at the "Hornets' Nest" was 
in progress, General Johnston had called his whole reserve 
into action. Placing Beauregard in command of the left 
wing, he sent Trabue, of Breckinridge's division, to the left, 
and Russell and Johnson, of Polk's command, to the center, 
and taking personal command of the other troops of the re- 
serve he led them to the right of his line, where he suc- 
ceeded in dislodging Stuart, and then, attackiiig Hurlbut's 
left flank, forced back the left of our line, and was personally 
directing an attack upon this point when he was killed, at 
about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon. 

Johnston's death caused a lull in the battle and Geaeral 
Bragg moved to the extreme right of the Confederate line, 
leaving General Raggles in command of the center, in front 
of the " Hornets' Nest. " Ruggles had witnessed the des- 
perate struggle at this point, and realizing, as he says, its 
importance and the impossibility of taking it with infantry 
alone, he " sent his staff officers in all directions to gather m 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 51 

all the artillery they could reach." He gives the names of 
ten batteries and one section which he planted in a great 
crescent and poured a concentrated fire from these sixty- two 
guns upon the devoted batteries of Hickenlooper, Mauch 
and Richardson, and upon the infantry defenders of the 
bloody angle in which the batteries were planted. Prom 
this tornado of solid shot and shell the batteries were 
obliged to withdraw and the infantry was left to face the fire 
alone. When the batteries withdrew, Patten Anderson, 
thinking doubtless that the line was broken, led his brigade 
across the field in a desperate charge against the still stub- 
born lines of Tuttle. At the same time the Crescent regi- 
ment of Louisiana, coming upon the field from towards the 
Confederate left, joined Anderson's brigade in the charge, 
but passed to the left in an attempt to gain the flank. 
Further supplementing the attack made by Ruggles upon 
our center, the Confederates had made a united and desperate 
effort all along the line, and, succeeding better on both flanks 
than at the oenter, had pressed Sherman's forces back on the 
right and had forced McClernand to retire. About the same 
time Hurlbut, no longer able to resist the tremendous pres- 
sure against his left, gradually gave way, until seeing that 
he was in danger of being cut off from the landing, he with- 
drew his whole division to the new line taken by Sherman 
and McClernand near the landing. 

Wallace, seeing the other divisions withdraw, leaving 
his flanks exposed, gave orders for his division to fall back, 
but before he could see the order executed he was killed. 
Sweeny received the order and withdrew his brigade from 
the right, but did not communicate the order to the 8th Iowa 
fighting with Prentiss, nor to the 58th Illinois regiment of 
his brigade at Tuttle's right. Tuttle communicated the or- 
der to the 2nd and 7th regiments and led them out of the 
trap, but the messenger sent by him to the 12th and 14th 
failed to deliver the order definitely, if at all, and those reg- 
iments were left, still holding the ground to which they had 



52 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

been assigned in the morning, The 12th, located at the very 
center of the contested line, had participated in repelling 
every attack, whether it carae through the timber or across 
the open field. Twice only had it left the place to which it 
was first assigned, and then only to make a counter charge 
and follow the retreating foe a short distance through the 
timber ; both times, hovvever, to return immediately to the 
strong line first occupied. Twelve separate and distinct- 
charges upon its position had been repulsed ; a division and 
a brigade of the enemy had been placed hors de combat in its 
front, and two other brigades and the "crack regiment" of 
the rebel service badly demoralized. The field in its front 
was so thickly strewn with dead that it could have been 
walked over without stepping off a dead body ; yet there 
was not a man who had left the regimental ranks except as 
he had been carried away wounded. Cartridges had been 
supplied from time to time as needed, and at 5 o'clock P. M. 
that line, the key to the position, was as firmly held 
as at 10 o'clock in the morning. And the men of the regi- 
ment were as capable of resisting as many more attacks, if 
they came from the front, as they had been to resist those 
that had been repeatedly made upon them. 

They had heard the shouts of battle to the right and left 
and knew that the lines were being pushed further and 
further towards the landing and to their rear. Some of the 
men had seen Hurlbut's line withdraw, and those on the right 
of the regiment had observed the withdrawal of the 2nd and 
7th ; and had seen the unopposed rebel line sweep through 
the opening thus left for them. But most of the men were 
too busily engaged with the enemy in front to observe what 
was going on at the rear, and it was only when they heard 
Colonel "Woods' order ring out, as cooly as if on parade, "12th 
Iowa, about face: forward march!" and obeying, had marched 
a short distance to the rear, where they discovered a for- 
midable line of gray drawn up before them, that the men re- 
alized that they were surrounded by the enemy. Still undis- 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 53 

mayed they poured such a wasting fire into those ranks that 
the line literally melted out of sight and those who had so 
recently occupied the hollow and survived that fire, gave to 
the place the name " Hell's Hollow." Seeing this line in the 
rear swept away and hoping to extricate his regiment from 
the trap in which it had been left by the retreat of the 
other troops. Colonel Woods placed himself at its head and 
led it by the flank double-quick down through the hollow and 
back to the main road, where it ran the gauntlet of fire from 
both sides, from the force that had sweijt Sherman and Mc- 
Clellan back from our right, and from that which had pressed 
Hurlbut back on the left. That the whole rebel army was 
for an hour engaged with that little remnant of Prentiss' di- 
vision and two regiments of Tuttle's brigade, now reduced to 
not more than 2,500 men, is proved by the official reports of 
the Confederate officers from every corps, division and bri- 
gade of the whole army, who say that they were present on 
the field at the time and place of Prentiss' surrender. The 
12th being so closely connected with Prentiss and he being 
the only General officer surrendered, the Confederate reports, 
and many of ours, for that matter, designate all the troops 
surrendered as Prentiss' division. 

However, as stated, the whole rebel army was sweep- 
ing up from right and left as the ill-fated regiment attempted 
to force its way to the landing ; it reached the camp of the 
3rd Iowa only to find that the road was closed ; Pond, Tra- 
bue, Johnson and Russell from the Confederate left had there 
united their forces with Chalmers, Jackson, Stratham and 
Bo wen from the right and all the other forces of the enemy, 
as reported by Cheatham, Ruggles and Withers, were closing 
in on either side and in the rear. 

Colonel Woods, twice wounded, dismounted and disabled, 
turned the command over to the senior captain — Edgington 
— who, after a few moments of ineffectual effort to extricate 
the regiment, was compelled to surrender it as prisoners of 
war. This surrender occurred about half-past five, and the 



54 T WEL FTH REGIMEN T lO IV A IN FA A TR V. 

fighting at that point ended the fighting of the day. It has 
been claimed that the delay caused by the stubborn resist 
ance of parts of five regiments at the "Hornets' Nest," 
even after the other troops had fallen back, saved Grant's 
army; and there is at least very good reason for the claim. 
There is no doubt that ai least one hour of time was consumed 
by the whole Confederate army in disposing of the squad at 
the "Hornets' Nest," after all the other troops had fallen 
back to the landing. Tuttle, with the 2Qd and 7th Iowa, was 
the last to withdraw, and he says that after reaching the po- 
sition taken by the other divisions near the landing, he heard 
the heavy continued firing at the front and knew that his 
other regiments were still fighting in an unequal contest 
with the whole rebel army; that he at once organized a force 
and started to go to their assistance, but before reaching 
them the firing ceased and he knew that they had surren 
dered. The time consumed by Tattle in organizing the force 
had at least given time for the formation of a line of defense 
near the river and before the defenders of the "Hornets' 
Nest" had been disposed of, night and Buell had come, and 
the first day's battle was over. 

That these men had been for an hour or more fighting 
the combined Confederate army, and that the time of surren- 
der was near 6 o'clock is proven by the ofiicial reports of the 
officers engaged on both sides. 

Beauregard says: " It was after 6 P. M. when the en 
emy's last position was carried and his forces finally broke 
and sought refuge behind an eminence covered by theii 
gunboats. ' ' 

Bragg says: "At about 10:30 I moved toward the right, in the di- \ 
rection in which Brig. Gen. Hindman of Hardee's line led his division. 
Here we met the most obstinate resistance of the day. General Elind 
man had led his division against the enemy, strongly posted behind a 
thicket; the command was gallantly led to the attack, but recoiled un- 
der a murderous fire; the command returned to the attack, but was un- 
equal to the heavy task. Leaving them to hold their position, I moved 
to the right and brought up Gibson's brigade of Ruggle's division, and 



BA TTL E OF SHIL OH 55 

threw them forward to attack this same point. A heavy fire opened and, 
after a short conflict, this command fell back in considerable disorder. 
Rallying' the different regiments by means of my staff officers, they were 
twice more moved to the attack, only to be driven back by the enemy 
occupying: the thick cover. Finding that nothing could be done here, 
after hours of severe exertion and heavy loss, the troops were posted to 
hold the position and I moved rapidly to the extreme right; here I found 
a strong- force consisting- of three parts without a common head — Beck- 
enridge's reserve division, Withers division and Cheatham's division; 
these troops were soon put in motion. It was now after 4 o'clock. Theee 
commands swept all before them, until they were met by our forces from 
the left, under General Polk, with General Anderson's and Pond's 
brigades from the extreme left, who had cut ofl:' from relief some 3,000 
prisoners" 

General Polk says: "About 5 o'clock P. M. my line at- 
tacked the enemy's troops — the last that were left upon the 
field. The attack was made in front and Hank. The resist- 
ance was sharp and proved to be the commands of Generals 
Prentiss and W. H. L. Wallace; the latter was killed by the 
troops of General Bragg, who was pressing him at the 
same time from the right."' 

These reports fix the matter surely that the extreme 
right and left of the Confederate army met after 5 o'clock, 
that their meeting cut off a part of Prentiss' and Wallace's 
divisions. In addition to these reports the claim is made by 
nearly every Confederate report published, from regimental, 
brigade or division commander, that they were personally 
present with their commands at the time Prentiss was cap- 
tured. Polk says: "About 5 p. m., Prentiss' troops were 
surrendered to Colonel Russell's brigade, of my command, 
and were sent to rear in charge of Lieutenant Richards, of 
my staff." Colonel Russell says: "General Prentiss was 
icaptured and delivered to me by private T. M. Semms." 
[ General Ruggles says: "In the mean time my first 
brigade, Gibson's — his left resting on the Bark road — united 
with General Hindman, engaged in repeated charges against 
the enemy's line on the margin of an open field swept by 
their fire. The enemy disputed the ground with remarkable 



I 



56 TWELFTH REGIMEN! lOlVA INFANTRY. 

tenacity for some two or three hours against our forces in 
front and his right flank, where cavalry, infantry and 
artilery mingled in the conflict. * -^ I sent the' 
Louisiana Crescent regiment to the left to seize an oppor- 
tunity to charge the enemy's position. 1 also sent my staff 
officers at the same time to bring forward all the field guns 
they could collect from the left toward the right as rapidly 
as possible, resulting in the concentration of the following 
batteries, commencing on the right and extending to the left; 
1st, Captain Trabue's, Ky.; 2d, Captain Byrne's Miss. ; 3rd, 
Lieutenant Thrall's section of Captain Hubbard's Ark.; 4th, 
Captain Sweet's Miss; 5th, Captain Trigg's, and 6th, Captain 
Roberts' Ark.; 7th, Captain Rutledge's; 8th, Captain Robert- 
son's (12-pounder Napoleon guns) Ala. ; 9th, Captain Stan- 
ford's Miss. ; lOtb, Captain Bankhead'sTenn. ; 11th, Hodgson's^ 
Washington artillery, La., extending in succession to the left, 
toward the position already designated as occupied by Cap- 
tain Ketchum's, Alabama, battery. For a brief period the 
enemy apparently gained ground, and when the conflict was 
at its height these batteries opened upon his concentrated 
forces, enfilading Prentiss' division on his right flank, pro- 
ducing immediate commotion and soon resulted in the preci- 
pitate retreat of the enemy from the contest. At this 
moment the second brigade (Anderson's) and the Crescent ; 
regiment pressed forward and cut off a considerable portion 
of the enemy comprising Prentiss' division, who surrendered 
to the Crescent regiment of my command then pressing upon 
his rear." 

General Trabue, who had been sent to the extreme left 
says: "I moved forward to the verge of a field where Pren- 
tiss surrendered; at this field General Breckenridge and 
others were hotly pressing the enemy on the right. The 
lines being gradually drawn more closely around this camp 
forced the surrender of Prentiss, who seemed to be the last 
of the Ya?iks zvho made a stand. I was halted here for a mo- 
ment by order of General Hardee and directed to send a regi- 



BATTLE OF SHI LOR 57 

merit back in charge of prisoners; I assigned the duty to 
Lieutenant Colonel Crews." 

Brigader General Withers, commanding a division on 
the right, claims the honor of "capturing Prentiss' division 
and placing them in charge of Colonel Shorter of the 18th 
Alabama, who marched them to Corinth." 
: These reports make us think that a large portion of the 
Confederate army was doing guard duty, conducting a couple 
of thousand prisoners to the rear. 

General Chalmers" brigade formed the extreme right of 
the Confederate lines; he says that his brigade "swinging 
around the flank of the enemy's line was in at the surrender 
and that Colonel Shaw of the 14th Iowa surrendered to the 
9th Mississippi, of his command." 

General Gibson fixes the point of his attack very 
definitely when he says that his left rested on the old Bark 
road and that he attacked the enemy posted behind an almost 
inpenetrable thicket. He admits that this brigade was re- 
pulsed four times and that it then went to pieces, but objects 
to the language used by General Bragg in his report of the 
action and asks a court of inquiry. 

Colonel Head, 17th Louisiana says: "At this point the 
enemy made a desperate stand and for two hours our success 
was doubtful." 

We might add many more reports of ofiicers who speak 
of their engagement with Prentiss' and Wallace's forces be- 
tween 4 and 6 o'clock; showing conclusively, not only that 
the whole Confederate army, right, left and center with all 
the corps commanders, Hardee. Bragg, Polk and Becken- 
ridge, were engaged against the survivors of the Hornets' 
Nest, but that the surrender, instead of taking place in the 
morning was at about 6 o'clock in the afternoon. 

General Grant well says: "The story that Prentiss 
and his command w^ere surprised and captured in their camps 
is without any foundation whatever. If it had been true, as 
currently reported at the time, and yet believed by thousands 



58 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

of people, that Prentiss and his division had been captured 
in their beds, there would not have been an all-day struggle 
with the loss of thousands of killed and wounded on the Con- 
federate side." 

William Preston Johnstons' life of his father, Gen. A. S. 
Johnston, came into the writer's hands after the foregoing 
was written. The author shows such thorough knowledge 
of the battle of Shiloh, and so fully corroborates what has 
been heretofore written, that we are constrained to add his 
testimony, especially as it will be seen that no one from 
either side has paid a more glowing tribute to the valor of 
the men who defended the Hornets Nest than he. 

Under the head "The Hornets' Nest," pages 620, he says: 

"Polk and Brag'g, meeting about half past ten o'clock, agreed that 
Polk should direct the left center, where part of his corps was grouped, 
and that Bragg should take command on his right. Bragg says, 'Here 
we met the most obstinate resistance of the day, the enemy being 
strongly posted with infantry and artillery on an eminence behind a dense 
thicket, Hindman's command was gallantry led to the attack, but re- 
coiled under a murderous fire.' Hindman himself was severely wounded 
by the explosion of a shell and bourne from the field. A. P. Stewart 
then took command of Hindman's brigade, with his own. This position 
of the Federal line was occupied by Wallace's division, and perhaps by 
the remains of Prentiss'. Here behind a dense thicket on the crest of a 
hill was posted a strong force of as hardy troops as ever fought, almost 
perfectly protected by the conformation of the ground, and by logs and 
other rude and hastily prepared defenses. To assail it, an open field had 
to be passed, enfiladed by the fire of its batteries. It was nick-named by 
the Confederates, by that very mild metaphor, 'The Hornets' Nest.' No 
figure of speech would be too strong to express the deadly peril of an 
assault upon this natural fortress, whose inaccessible barriers blazed 
for six hours with sheets of flame, and whose infernal gates poured forth 
a murderous storm of shot and shell and musket-fire which no living 
thing could quell or even withstand. Brigade after brigade was led 
against it. But valor was of no avail. Hindman's brilliant brigades 
which had swept everything before them from the field, were shivered 
into fragments in the shock of the assault, and paralyzed for the re- 
mainder of the day. A. P. Stewart's regiment made fruitless assaults, 
but only to retire mangled and disheartened from the field. Bragg now 
ordered up Gibson's splendid brigade, composed of the 1st Arkansas, 4th, 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 59 

13th, and 19th Louisiana which moved forward with alacrity. Gibson 
himself, a knightly soldier, as gentle and courteousas he was unflinching, 
was aided by colonels, three of whom afterwards became generals. The 
brigade made a gallant charge but, like the others, recoiled from the 
fire it encountered. A blaze of musketry swept through it from front 
and flank: powerful batteries also opened upon its left. Under this cross 
fire it at last fell back with heavy loss. Allen's 4th Louisiana was dread- 
fully cut up in this charge, and suffered some confusion from a misap- 
prehension that it was being fired upon by friends. Gibson asked for 
artillery to be sent to him; but it was not at hand, and Bragg sent orders 
to charge again. The colonels though it hopeless; but Gibson led them 
again to the attack, and they again suffered a bloody repulse 

Gibson who, assisted by Allen and Avegno, had been leading the 
4th and 13th Louisana in the first two assaults, learning from the adju- 
tant of Fagan that the regiments on the right had suffered equal disaster, 
turned over the command of his left wing to Colonel Allen, with direc- 
tions to execute the orders received from General Bragg. He then pro- 
ceeded to the right and helped Pagan to lead the magnificent 1st Ar- 
kansas again to the assault. Four times the position was charged; four 
times the assault proved unavailing. The brigade was repulsed; but 
maintained its ground until Wallace's position was finally turned, when, 
again renewing its forward movement, in conjunction with Cheatham's 
command, it helped to drive back its stout opponents. 

When Gibson went to Fagan 's assistance, Allen, a very fearless soldier, 
wrung by his unavailing losses, rode back to General Bragg to repeat 
the need of artillery, and to ask him if he must charge again. Bragg, 
impatient at the check, hastily replied, 'Colonel Allen. I want no faltering 
now.' Allen, stung by the reply, said not a word, but going back to his 
command, and waiving his sword for his men to follow, charged once 
more but in vain. He never forgave Bragg. Patten Anderson's brigade 
with the Crescent regiment, two battalions and a battery from Trabue's 
brigade was evidently more successful further to the left His ground 
was very difficult, but he caught the enemy more in the flank and clung 
to it, rattling them with musketry until the movement of the Confederate 
right broke into this citadel, when he carried his point. But this was 
not until after hours of maneuvering and heavy skirmishinar with great 
loss and after the enemy's left had been turned. The 20th Louisiana was 
badly cut up and in other regiments many companies lost all their 
officers. Anderson probably confronted Prentiss.* 

About half past three o'clock the struggle at the center, which 
had been going on for five hours with fitful violence, was renewed with 

* [Note.— As Anderson fought to the left of Gibson he must have engaged Tuttle's 
brigade of Wallace's division, - D. W, R. 



«) TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

the utmost fury. Polk's and Bragg's corps, ititerming-led, were engaged 
in a death grapple with the sturdy commands of Wallace and Prentiss. 
The Federal generals had consulted and had resolved to stand and hold 
their ground at all hazards, hoping thus to save the rest of the army 
from destruction: and there is little doubt that their manful resistance, 
which cost one his life and the other his liberty, so checked the South- 
ern troops as to gain time and prevent the capture of Grant's army. 

While an ineffectual struggle was going on at the center, General 
Ruggles judiciously collected all the artillery he could find, some eleven 
batteries in all, which he massed against Prentiss' right flank, the center 
of what remained. The opening of so heavy a fire, and the simultaneous 
tho" unconcerted advance of the whole Confederate line resulted at first 
in the confusion of the enemy, and then in the defeat of Wallace and the 
surrender of Prentiss. Patton Anderson's brigade and Marshall J. 
Smith's, Crescent, regiment were especially conspicuous on these closing 
scenes. But, while the artillery massed by Ruggles, and his division, 
wei-e so eff^ectual in achieving this result, they were not alone in the 
crushing coil which caught Prentiss in its force. Polk and Hardee burst 
through and destroyed the troops occuping the right of Wallace's posi- 
tion, who were thoroughly beaten and driven from the field; they thus 
got in on Prentiss* right flank. Bragg, with Breckenridge, pushed in 
on Prentiss' left flank and Chalmers on his rear, and thus intercepted 
his retreat. While these movements were being executed Prentiss de- 
termined on a bold course. He formed his men to make an attack, but 
the Confederates closed in around him, and he found himself, after a 
struggle, cut off, encompassed and at the mei'cy of his adversaries. 
With Hurlbut gone, and "Wallace dead, Prentiss was isolated. Struck 
in front and rear and on either flank, cut off in every attempt to escape, 
about half past four o'clock what was left of Prentiss' division surrend- 
ered with the 8th, r2th and 14th Iowa and the 58th Illinois of Wallace's 
division, more than 3,000 men. This division had received the first blow 
in the morning and made the last organized resistance in the afternoon. 
Each Confederate commander— division, brigade and regimental — as his 
command pounced upon the prey believed it entitled to the credit of 
the capture. Bi-eckenridge's, Withers', Ruggles', Cheatham's and other 
divisions which helped to subdue these stubborn fighters, each imagined 
his the hardest part of the work — possibly the whole of it. The capture 
was, in truth, due almost as much to one as another as it was the result 
of the annihilation of Grant's whole line." 

Alfred Roman in his "Life of General Beauregard," 
■which was reviewed and endorsed by Beauregard before his 
death, says: 



BATTLE OF SHILOH 61 

"Prentiss, in his first position received the full shock of Gladden's, 
Hindman's and Wood's brigades. * * * About 10 o'clock Brecken- 
ridge's and Cheatham's full divisions joined lines and engaged W. H. 
Wallace and Hurlbut. All the forces on each side were now in action. 
* * * About 2:30 to 3 P. M., Wallace's right was attacked by Lonney's 
and Marshall J. Smith's (Crescent) regiments and by a portion of Gib- 
son's brigade and Hindman's division and Giadden's brigade, while 
Cheatham's and Breckenridge's forces were pressed against his left, and 
Pj'entiss was attacked with great determination by Bragg, while Chal- 
mers and .Jackson attacked Hurlbut. Hulburt's line gave way and as he 
withdrew attempted to make a stand at his camp but to avoid, being cut 
off from the landing fell back at about 4 o clock upon Pittsburg Land- 
ing, thus allowing Chalmers and Jackson to move upon the flank of the 
line held by Prentiss and Wallace. While all these forces were closing 
upon Wallace and Prentiss it had brought the extreme right and left of 
the Confederate line of battle unexpectedly face to face." * * * 

To those comrades who survived that desperate struggle, 
and to the friends who still mourn those who fell on that 
glorious field, there is the consolation of knowing that, after 
years of waiting, the final summing up of the evidence will 
convince any unprejudiced searcher after the truth that the 
valor of the troops at the "Hornets' Nest" saved the day at 
Shiloh. And who shall say what the result of the great con- 
test would have been had Shiloh been lost on Sunday, and 
Beauregard's army left free to attack Buell on the next day'? 
Is there not a very strong probability that such a reverse 
would have so strengthened the " Peace at any price " party, 
then just coming to the front, that the armies woidd have 
been recalled and the Union dissolved'? 

All honor, then, to those who that day withstood the 
onsets of the whole rebel army, and gave their lives, or suf- 
fered wounds and the horrors of the prison pens, that the 
Army of the Tennessee might not be destroyed, and to those 
who, by saving that army from defeat at Shiloh April 6, 1862, 
saved the Union. 



I 



CHAPTER VI. 



Night After the Battle— April, 1862. 



He only who has been desperately wounded and has 
spent a night among thousands of others as badly wounded 
as himself, not one of whom could by any possibility move 
from the place w^here he fell, and has heard through the live- 
long hours the death moans of comrades, and that pitiful cry 
for water! water I growing fainter and fainter until it was 
hushed in death, can in any degree realize what is meant by 
a " night after the battle," or what the field of Shiloh was 
"on Sunday night, April 6, 1862. Immediately after the cap- 
ture of the defenders of the "Hornets' Nest" all prisoners, 
wounded or not, who could by the aid of comrades be 
marched off the field, were sent to the rear under guard. 
Those unable to be moved were left where they fell, in places 
piled in heaps, the dead and dying together. Very soon 
after the surrender our gunboats commenced to shell that 
part of the field, causing the Confederates to withdraw all 
their forces out of range and leave the wounded and dying 
to spend the night in darkness, under a dripping rain, with 
no one to bring them comfort, minister to their wants, or 
hold a cup of water to lips parched by burning fever. 

General Grant, in his Memoirs, says of this part of the 
field: "Shiloh was the severest battle fought in the west 
during the war, and but few in the east equaled it for hard, 
determined fighting. I saw an open field in our possession 
on the second day, over which the Confederates had made 
repeated charges the day before, so covered with dead that 
it would have been possible to have walked across the clear- 



NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE— APRIL, 1862. 63 

ing in any direction, stepping on dead bodies, without a foot touch- 
ing the grou?id.'^ 

General Tattle says: "While passing over the field, 
April 7th, General Buell taunted me with not having done 
any fighting that amounted to anything; but I took him over 
the clearing at the "Hornets' Nest," where the dead lay so 
thick that one could walk upon their bodies, showed him 
the position of the respective opposing armies, and he was 
compelled to confess that there must have been terrible 
fighting." 

While we have these evidences of the appearance of this 
battle ground, the great day of final reckoning can alone 
reveal the amount of suffering of that night, or the number 
of those, whose life blood ebbed slowly away, that might 
have lived had they been cared for in time. 

The prisoners were marched five miles to the rear, and 
halted in a cornfield, where they dressed the wounds of their 
comrades as best they could, performing some very difficult 
surgical operations with jackknives, and then lay down, 
supperless, to rest among the corn rows, with the rain pour- 
ing upon them from above and soaking them from beneath ; 
but, worse than all these misfortunes, was the knowledge 
that they were prisoners, and the belief, encouraged by their 
captors, that the whole army was utterly routed. 

The few members of the regiment who were left sick in 
camp in the morning had been joined during the day by 
quite a number returning from hospital, and by a few of 
those slightly wounded in the early part of the day ; these 
had torn down the regimental tents when the battle seemed 
to be likely to involve that part of the field ; had loaded all 
the stuff upon wagons and sent them to the river bank ; so 
that these were also without shleter, and the three divisions 
of the regiment — the prisoners, the wounded, and the sick — 
passed the night on different parts of the field, shelterless 
and friendless, all suffering the depressing influences of the 
day's disaster. 



64 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Monday morning the remnant of the regiment in camp 
was organized by Lieutenant D. B. Henderson of Company 
C, who liad returned the day before from •' absent wounded," 
but too late to join his command before they were sur- 
rounded. With this " squad " Henderson joined Tuttle's com- 
mand and fought with him during the day. As the Con- 
federates were driven back, the wounded were gathered up 
and cared for. and during the niglit of Monday nearly all had 
been sent to field hospitals, where their wounds were dressed 
as rapidly as possible, but for some their turn did not come 
until as late as Tuesday night. The prisoners were hurried 
away to Corinth and entered upon a term of confinement in 
Southern prisons destined to continue for eight months be- 
fore the regiment should be again united in the field. 

Of the losses of the regiment at Shiloh no complete re- 
port was ever made, nor could such report be correctly made 
at any time since the battle. The survivors in camp 
gathered the killed and wounded of the regiment, so far as 
they could be found and recognized, but when we remember 
that the battle lasted two days; that the field was fought over 
time and again, we shall realize how difficult it was to recog- 
nize bodies thus exposed, some of them for forty-eight hours, 
and shall not wonder that many were never recognized nor that 
2,361 soldiers were buried as unknown by the burial party. 
The survivers of the regiment gathered in all they could 
find and then reported all not thus accounted for as " Missing 
in Battle." When the prisoners returned these lists were 
corrected as fully as possible from memory, and it was found 
that in a number of cases no further information could be 
obtained; some names still stand on the rolls as "Missing 
at Battle of Shiloh," and no one knows whether they were 
killed on the field and buried as " unknown '' or were wounded 
and captured only to die in prison. 

The following table shows the casualties of each com- 
pany as nearly as can be ascertained from the records: 



65 



NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE— APRIL, 1S62. 



COMPANIES. 



iMelil au(i Staft- 

Coinpaijy A 

Comiiaiiy B 

Company C 

Coiii|iaiiy 1) 

Company K 

Company F 

Company G 

Company H 

Company I 

Company K 



Total. 







- 















-r; 






^ 




^ 
















~ 










-3 




a 






















■a 




«2 




■^ 


!- %. 




a Qj 


a 


Oi 


•Z 0) 






0.3 


"A 


)A 


^ 


S 






1 
1 


4 

27 


1 

1 


5 


65 

48 




4 


51 
40 


4 


3 


5i> 


3 





50 


5 


42 


2 





35 





5S 


1 


!) 


4,S 


4 


r)5 


1 


•2 


52 


6 


41 




4 


37 


3 


;« 


1 




3(5 


*o 


44 
479 


1 


4 
43 


3J 


1 




17 


41!) 


83 ' 






.S c- 





1 




1 






1 


3 
3 


4 
3 


1 








- 





.2 a 
Q 






^a 

a _ ^ 

.a o ^ 

S 1- =s 



8 
1 


1 


8 








2 




10 





;-! 





9 


1 



'Sergeant Cotes says 7. 

The actual loss to the regiment was: Killed, known, 
17, supposed, 4, total, 21; wounded, 76 (19 mortally); died of 
disease, 65. Total deaths as result of the battle, 107. As 
follows: 

KILLED -Co. A: Lieut. George W. Moir, Whitcomb Fairbanks. Barton 
'•'^H. Johnson, Reuben G. King and William Stotsen; Co. C: Corpl. 
NiThomas Henderson, Charles Larson and Charles Pendleton; Co. 
ix D: Lieut. J. D. Ferguson, James P. Ayers and Daniel Luther; Co. 
« E: Israel W. Fuller and William L. Pauley; Co. P: Corpl. A. D. 
^ Campbell; Co. G: Ole G. Olesen; Co. I: Thomas H. Wilson; Co. K: 
Lewellyn Larebee. 

MISSING -Supposed to have been killed. Co. A: John Moran and Wil- 
liam Letler; Co C: George W. Grannis; Co. K: W. H. H. Fuller. 

WOUNDED— Left on the field. Those marked X died of wounds. Field 
and staff, Col. J. J. Woods; Co. A: Corpl. Ezekiel S. Swaih; Co B: 
Orison F. Adams, Cornelius Deeny, William F. Maynard and 
Stephen Wood; Co. C: Corpl. P. R. Ketchum, Frank W. Moine, 
Albert P. Munger, David W. Reed and Henry George +; Co. D: 
Sergt. John M. Clark; Edwin H. Bailey. Thomas Barr, Isaac G. 
Clarke; Robert C. Cowell and Frank Renchin; Co. E: Ben. E. Eber- 
hart, Anthony Biller, Jacob Howery +, Charles Johnson j and 
John P. Thompson t ; Co. F: Sergt. H. J. F. Small, Sergt. R. W. 
Terrill, Corpl. Thomas C. Nelson, Aborn Crippen +, George Kent, 



66 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

Perry C. Kenney, Samuel Plattenburg, Joseph Pate + and Orry 
Wood J; Co. G: Ole Oleson and Alfred S. Puller; Co. H: Alexan- 
der Presho, Edgar A. Ward 1,, Albert T. Garner and Frank M. 
.hilus Kesler; Co. I: Joseph H. Cobb, '^*l^etii»Eaton; Co. K: Sergt. Ben- 
jamin Hayhurst, Sylvester Griffin %, Frank Keizer and John 
Moulton X 

WOUNDED AND CAPTURED— Those marked X died in prison of 
wounds. Field and staff, Adjt. N. E. Duncan; Co A: Kendrick S, 
Sprague; Co B: Charles KingJ, Robert Wampler, Henry Jones 
and August Leue; Co. C: Sergt George W. Cook and Wilson I. 
King; Co. D: Corpl. Joseph Stibbs, Corpl. H. C. Morehead, Corpl. 
Howard Pangborn, J. M. Tarpening and Louis SnellJ; Co. E: 
Thomas PorterJ, Samuel J. Lichtyt, Joseph JohnsonJ, John P. 
■i\ KochI and Jeremiah Margretz; Co. P: David ClarkJ, John A. Mc- 
CullochJ, Allen Ware t and Joseph S. Gritton; Co. G: Lieut. L. 

D. Townsley, Carl B. Xittleson, Gilbert Anderson, Nels Peterson, 
Peter Larson and John Steen; Co. H: Corpl. .Joseph Evans, David 
Moreland and John G. Currie; Co. I: J. Warren Cotes and Samuel 
Gordon * 

DIED OF DISEASE IN PRISON— Co. A: Israel Hall, R. F. Quivey; 
Co B: Lieut. L. H. Merrill, Sergt. Daniel Harbaugh, Corpl. Prank 

E. Hancock, Madison J. Roe, John L. Bryant. .Jens Hanson, Ole 
Hanson, Leem Kleven, Henry Kuck, Charles H. Noyes, Edwin R. 
Perry, Ira E. Peck, Simeon Peck. Knudt Thorson and William M. 
White; Co. C: Corpl. Samuel F. Brush, Corpl. Daniel D Warner, 
James L. Ayres, Henry Beadle, John Quivey, Willard E. Simar, 
Charles Sigman and Samuel Stone; Co. D: Robert McLain; Co. E: 
Corpl. John T. Smith, John Ahrens, William O. Bird, Hiram Hos- 
ingtoni Elias Moon. Washington Richmond, Milton Rood, Stephen 
Story; Co. F: D. N. Lilibridge, William H. Mason. E. M. Over- 
ocker, Thomas Otis, George Parkes, Ira W. Roberts and Charles 
P. Toney; Co. G: Lieut. J. F. Nickerson Henry Johnson, No. 1; 
Co. H: Lieut. L. W. Jackson. John H. Byrns. William H. Collins, 
Thomas Clendenin, James E. Nichols. Royal F. Nutting, Henry L. 
Richardson, Charles E. Richardson, William J. Slack and Julius 
Ward; Co. I: Lieut. John J. Marks, Jesse W. Dean and Charles 
W. Sackett; Co. K: Corpl. Benjamin E. Nash, Corpl. John Turl- 
ton, Corpl. Merriam Lathrop, Daniel Downer, William T. Johnson, 



[• NOTE— Sergt. Cotes says that other members of Co. I were wounded and made 
prisoners as follows: Robert P. Brown, John T. Campbell. Oeorge Teskey, Alonzo Wells 
and A. W. Hatfteld; that Tesfeejf-tmd Hatfield and Cotes were wounded by the same 
bullet. 



NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE— APRIL, 1862. 67 

George F. Lande, Thomas Sover, Charles W. Smith and Philan- 
der Wilson 

That the casualites were no greater, we may thank the 
old sunken road and the protecting ridge that sheltered the 
regiment from the fire of Ruggles' batteries, as well as from 
the musketry fire of the infantry. 

Comrade R. P. Clarkson, Co. A, who visited the Shiloh 
battlefield April, 1884, wrote an account of his visit and 
among many other good things says: 

"Representatives of the Iowa brigade composed of the 2nd, 7th, 
12th, and 14th Iowa, headed by Col. Shaw of the Uth Iowa —mounted- 
Gen. Tuttle and the rest of us on foot, easily found our first line of battle, 
followed the line of retreat to the last desperate btrug-gle of the 8th, 
12th and 14th Iowa and part of Gen. Prentiss' division, where less than 
4,030 men fought the three rebel divisions, of Polk, Hardee and Breck- 
inridge, for half an hour, when our ammunition, was exhausted and we 
made the last effort to escape in a deadly, pell mell rush across "Hell's 
Hollow" and were finally forced to surrender in the 3i^d Iowa s tents just 
at sunset, the last heavy fighting in the first day's contest This little 
band by their stubbornness in being the last to give way on the entire 
line, had saved the balance of the army from capture, but had sacrificed 
themselves. How well they fought, the thousands of '-unknown" graves 
in the National Cemetery on the bluff sadly and strongly tell. Their 
line of retreat, the crossing of "Hell's Hollow" and the point of capture 
were more thickly strewn with dead bodies than any other place in the 
fearful struggle. Not one half of the number of any of the three Iowa 
regiments named, who so grandly mai'ched forth to battle on that beau- 
tiful Sabbath morning, were ever reported for duty again. Their bodies 
rest in this beautiful cemetery and in the accursed soil around the rebel 
prison pens in nearly every Southern State east of the Mississippi river, 
and in home cemeteries, where they were laid by loving hands, from 
disease contracted in the rebel prison hells. But enough of sadness be- 
fore remembrance drives the pencil to bitterness. 

The saddest feature about the cemetery is the fact that nearly the 
entire number of dead comrades of the regiments that were captured, 
except those who were killed early in the day in the first day's fight, 
"sleep their last sleep" in "unknown" graves. The 8th, 12th and Uth 
Iowa Regiments, all of which were captured at the close of the first 
day's fight, are but slightly represented by known graves in the cem- 
etery, and this is also true as to other captured regiments. The dead of 



I 



68 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y. 

these regiments wei'e scattered on the line of battle, along the line of 
retreat and. where they made the last desperate stand. Owing to the 
scattered condition of the dead, their comrades left in regimental camps 
could not find their bodies after the battle was over, and so they were 
buried in the long and shallow trenches, hundreds in a trench. 

Another important feature is brought out by this fact. In case of 
the captured regiments there was no one to report the casualities for 
these regiments after the battle was over, and so the number of killed 
in those regiments is given in all the printed reports only for the known 
dead found on the field. After the prisoners were released it was too 
late to correct the official reports, and the records still perpetuate the 
false reports, as first made, thus belittling the brave men, who were the 
only troops that held their original line of battle all day, and whose 
stubborn resistance was all that saved the entire army from destruction. '- 

'•We only know that they are sleepinii', our brave and gallant dead ; 
Unnamed their place of slumber, no Jitone at foot or head 
To tell the weary watcher whether this be friend or foe. 
Who sleeps the sleep that knows no waking, but God alone may know. 

It may be your blue-eyed darling, oh mother with snowy hair. 
Who marched at his country's calling, so young, so brave, so fair; 
In the flush of his glad young manhood, he left you long ago, 
If he be the lonely sleeper, there is none but God may know. 

Oh, wife, that mourned the lost one all these lonely years, 

Whose heart is weary waiting, whose eyes are dimmed with tears. 

It may be the one that left you to bravely meet the foe 

In the valley or on the hillside, there is none but God may know" 

The total number of pri.soners taken at the time of final 
surrender was 2.200. This included all the wounded cap- 
tured at that time. This little remnant of eight regiments — 
four of Wallace's division and four of Prentiss' division — sur- 
rendering after an all day's fight, is all there was to show 
for the boasted capture of a "whole division before they had 
left their bunks in the morning." . 

The total number of prisoners captured, including 
wounded, both days, from the army of the Tennessee, was 
2,830; of this number the r2th Iowa lost in prisoners 419; 
Tattle's brigade, 676; Sweney's brigade, 619;- Wallace's 
division, 1,306; Prentiss' division, 1,008. 

The total losses reported by divisions were as follows: 



ountled. 


Prisoners. 


Total. 


1,372 


85 


1.742 


1,173 


1,306 


2,749 


251 


4 


296 


1,441 


111 


1,869 


1,277 


299 


1901 


928 


l.OOS 


2,172 


159 


17 


215 


6,601 


2,830 


10,944 


1,X07 


55 


2,103 


8.408 


2,885 


13,047 


8,012 


959 


10,699 



NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE— APRIL, 1862. 69 

Killed. 

1st division, McClernand 285 

2nd •• w. H. L. Wallace 270 

3nl " Lew. Wallauf- 41 

4tli " Hmlbut 317 

5tli " Sherman 325 

6th •• I'rentiss 236 

Unassigned 39 

Total, Army of the Tennessee 1,513 

Army of the Ohio 241 

Total Union forces 1,754 

Confederate army 1,728 

Aggregate 3,482 16,420 3,844 23,746 

General Grant's "Present for duty " April 6 was 39,830. 
Deducting non-combatants, would leave about 36, 000 effective. 
The loss in the five divisions present on the 6th was 10,729, 
or 30 per cent, of his fighting force. 

" Rest, weary soldier, rest: 
No more by toil oppressed; 
No sourlding trumpet calls thee now — 
No care disturbs thy peaceful brow; 
The battle fought, the victoi'y won. 
Thy work in freedom's cause is doiie; 
Where fall our grateful tears, 
Rest, weary soldier, rest." 



CHAPTER VII. 



A Brief Review and Reports. 



"Was Shiloh a surprise?" The question has been 
asked and answered a thousand times, and each person 
thinking or writing upon the question answers it from his 
own individual standpoint. In our view the answer depends 
largely upon the exact definition given to the word 
" surprise," as used in this connection. Webster's definition 
is, "To come or fall upon suddenly and unexpectedly." 
The attack, as we have shown, was not sudden ; the enemy 
was met several miles out and his advance delayed for hours 
until all had notice of his coming. It was, perhaps, not 
expected that the Confederates would come out from 
Corinth and make an attack, but every one knew that such 
an attack, when in the enemy's country, was liable to be 
made, and surely all the division commanders knew that the 
enemy was feeling our outposts, which surely indicated a 
disposition to attack, should opportunity offer. 

But we will let the official report answer the question. 

General Grant had sent out warning of possible attack, 
April 4, as follows: 

" Headquarters Dist. West Tennessee, "i 
Pittsburg. April 4, 1862 j" 
Brig. Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, Commanding Second Division: 

* * * It is believed that the enemy are re-enforcing at Purdy, 
and it may be necessary to re-enforce Gen. Lew. Wallace, to avoid his 
being attacked by a superior force. Should you find danger of this sort, 

re-enforce him at once with your entire division. 

U. S. Grant, 
Maj. Gen. Commanding.' 

At the same time he advised General Sherman of the 



A BRIEF REVIEW AND REPORTS. 71 

order given Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, and directed Sherman 
to keep a sharp lookout and co-operate. 

Genera] Halleck, as soon as he assumed the personal 
command of the army in the field, and had reviewed the 
official reports, wrote [Vol. X, p. 991]: "May 2, 1862.— 
The newspaper accounts that our divisions were surprised 
is e?itirely false ; every division had notice of the enemy's ap- 
proach hours before the battle commenced. W. H. Halleck, 
Maj. Gen. Commanding." Again on June 15 [see same re- 
IDort] he wrote: " The impression that our forces were sur- 
prised on the morning of the 6th is entirely erroneous. 
H. W. Halleck, Maj. Gen." 

General Beauregard said, when he found that their 
forces were not in position to attack on the 5th: " There is 
no longer hope of taking the enemy by surprise ; our presence 
is already known." 

General Bragg said: " The enemy gave us no time to 
discuss the question of attack. He was encountered in force 
at his advanced position. In a mile or more we encountered 
him in strong force along his entire line." 

Hardee says: "My forces were attacked at dawn, be- 
fore they had commenced the advance." 

Colonel Woods, in a letter written on this subject August 
19, 1884, says: "The question turns largely on the exact 
definition we give to the word surprised. Professor Mahan, 
our highest autlaorit}', defines a surprise as ' an unexpected 
attack for which the assaulted are not prejDared.' Two 
questions are involved. First, Was the attack expected ? 
second, Were we prepared to meet it ? I think all will agree 
that we were poorly prepared to meet it, and why ? partly 
because the expected forces had not all arrived. But the 
most natural answer is because the attack was unexpected. 
And why unexpected "? The reconnaissance by the rebels 
and skirmishing Friday afternoon [which was certainly 
known to every general officer in the command], showed 

PLAINLY THAT THE R"EBELS INTENDED TO ATTACK in the 



72 T WELFTH RE GIMENT lO WA IN FA N TR Y. 

near future. They could only be doubted on the ground that 
the rebels found us too strong or too well prepared to receive 
them to justify an attack. While I have no knowledge as to 
how the general officers interpreted the facts above alluded 
to, I was led to believe that the attack was unexpected by 
them, and that therefore, while there might be a partial sur- 
prise, it hardly came under that definition." 

General Tuttle, in answer to the question: "Were you 
surprised at Shiloh ? " says: " No, I was not surprised, and 
I do not consider that our army was. There had been heavy 
skirmishing in the front for several days, and all in camp 
knew it, and I think it reflects upon the intelligence of any 
man that insists that we were surprised that morning. I 
freely admit that we got the worst of the fight that day, but 
we were not surprised. To be sure, we were not so well pre- 
pared as we should have been to receive an attack, but it 
must be borne in mind that an officer would have been 
laughed out of camp then who would have taken the pre- 
cautions in such cases as were taken a few years later. He 
would have been accused of timidity, if not cow^ardice. At 
that time every officer and soldier in the army thought he 
knew all about how to handle troops, and how things ought 
to be done generally. Particularly was this the case with 
newspaper correspondents. A great many of the reports of 
the battle were made from the reports of fugitives from the 
front, who always had awful stories to tell of how ' ' our 
regiment was cut all to pieces." 

Generals Sherman and Prentiss show% by sending out 
extra pickets and scouting parties, that they knew of the 
activity of the enemy in their front ; and General Grant, in 
his report says he expected that the enemj'^, if he attacked, 
would make demonstration upon Pittsburg but attack 
the weaker place at Crump's Landing. 

The many fugitives from their regiments that sought the 
landing was referred to as an evidence of surprise and 
demoralization by General Buell and others. But when we 



I A BRIEF REVIEW AND REPORTS. 73 

consider the number of new regiments that had just arrived 
upon the field and for the first time became engaged at 
Shiloh, some of these regiments not being supplied with 
arms until they were in line of battle, and many of the men 
never having seen a cartridge until they were ordered to 
load, we shall wonder less at the few who were demoralized 
and more that they fought as long as they did. General 
Buell undoubtedly found a large number of men at the river 
bank, but no one that has ever seen the rear of an army in 
time of battle has failed to note that there are a large number 
of "hangers on" to an army, who gather at the rear and 
present a demoralized condition. Buell' s army showed it the 
next day, and the Confederate reports indicate a like con- 
dition of affairs ; many of their officers admitting that after 
some of their desperate charges at the " Hornets' Nest" 
their commands went to pieces and were not again in the 
fight as an organization. No doubt they presented a demoral- 
ized condition at the rear. General Bragg, writing to his 
command just after the battle, says: " Our condition is hor- 
rible ; our troops utterly demoralized and disorganized. It 
is most lamentable to see the state of affairs ; the whole pre- 
sent the scene of a rout, and no mortal could restrain it. ' ' 
Beauregard says, afterwards, that he could not put 20,000' 
men in battle on the 7th. 

Since several of the official reports touch upon these 
questions, as well as upon others of interest, we present them 
herewith, together with some articles by eminent command- 
ers, written since the war: 

• REPORT OP COL. J. J. WOODS, TWELFTH IOWA. 

" Maquoketa, Iowa, April — , 1862. 

On the morning- of April 6th, the rebels having attacked our ad- 
vanced lines at Shiloh, Tenn., the 12th Iowa Infanti-y was rapidly formed 
and joined the other regiments of the 1st brigade, under General Tuttle. 

The brigade was marched to near a field beyond General Hurlbut s 
headquarters and formed in line of battle: the 2nd and 7th on our right, 
the 14th on our left ; the 8th Iowa on the left of the 14th, forming an 



\ 



74 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

angle to the rear with our line. An open field lay in front of our right. 
Dense timber covered our left. A small ravine was behind us. In this 
position we awaited the approach of the enemy. Soon he made a bold 
attack on us, but met with a warm reception and was repulsed. 

Again and again did he attack us, trying vainly to drive us from 
our position. He failed to move us one inch ; on the contrary, we re- 
pulsed every attack and drove him back in confusion. 

Thus matters stood in our front until about 4 o'clock P. M., at which 
time it became evident by the firing on our left that the enemy was get- 
ting in our rear. An aide-de-camp rode up and directed me to face to 
the rear and fall back, stating, in answer to my inquiry, that I would re- 
ceive orders as to the position I was to occupy. No such ordei's reached 
me, and, I suppose, could not. 

The 2nd and 7th Iowa had already gone to the rear, and on reaching 
the high ground between our position and General Hurlbut's head- 
quarters we discovered that we were already surrounded by the enemy, 
caused by no fault of ours but by the troops at a distance from us on our 
right and left giving way before the enemy. Seeing ourselves sur- 
rounded, we nevertheless opened a brisk fire on that portion of the 
enemy who blocked our passage to the landing, who, after briskly return- 
ing our fire for a short time, fell back. A brisk fire from the enemy on 
our left [previous right] was going on at the same time. 

Seeing the enemy in front falling back, we attempted by a rapid 
movement to cut our way through, but the enemy on our left advanced 
rapidly, coming in behind us, pouring into our ranks a most destructive 
fire. The enemy in front faced about and opened on us at short range, 
the enemy in our rear still closing in on us rapidly. I received two 
wounds, disabling me from further duty. The command then devolved 
on Captain Edgington, acting as field officer. The enemy had, however, 
already so closely surrounded us that their balls which missed our men 
took effect in their own ranks beyond us. To have held out longer 
would have been to suffer complete annihilation. The regiment was 
therefore compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. 

Lieut. Col. Coulter was much reduced by chronic diarrhoea, and 
Major Brodtbeck was suffering from rheumatism ; being myself the only 
field officer on duty, at ray request Captain Edgington acted as a field 
officer, the duties of which he performed in an able and efficient manner. 

Quartermaster Dorr, though his position did not require him to go 
into action, volunteered to do so, and throughout the day behaved in a 
gallant manner, daringly, if not recklessly, exposing himself to the 
enemy. He made himself very useful in carrying messages and spying 
out the position and movements of the enemy and firing on them as 
occasion oft'ered. Energetic and effleient in his own department, he 



A BRIEF REVIEW AND REPORTS. 75 

would fill a higher one with credit to himself and honor to the service. 

Adjutant Duncan proved himself on this, as on all other occasions, a 
faithful and efficient officer 

Captains Earle, Warner, Stibbs, Haddock, Van Duzee and Townsley 
performed well their part, as did all the lieutenants in the action, in a 
prompt and willing manner. The non-commissioned officers and men 
stood bravely up to their work, and never did men behave better. 

In the death of Lieutenant Ferguson, Co. D, the regiment lost one 
of its best drilled officers and a gallant soldier. It also lost a good offi- 
cer in the death of Lieutenant Moir, Co A. 

J. J. Woods, 
Colonel 12th Iowa Infantry," 

To Asst. Adjt. Gen. 1st Brig. 2Qd Div. 

Colonel Woods afterwards, in response to a request, 

submitted the following supplemental support: 

" Montana, Labette County, ) 
Kansas, June 8, 1881. S 

In response to request I submit the following hastily prepai-ed 
sketch: 

* * * At about 8:30 or 9 o'clock our regiment was in the line of 
battle assigned to it; an open field lay in front of our right. Dense tim- 
ber covered our left. A small ravine was behind us. I ordered the men 
to lie down, not to fire until ordered, and to fire low. In this position 
we awaited the attack of the enemy. In a short time the enemy ap- 
peared, advancing in line of battle, and when about thirty paces distant 
the 12th and 14th Iowa almost instantaneously delivered a volley into his 
ranks; those who were not killed or wounded fled from the field. In a 
short time the enemy reformed his lines and made a second attack with 
similar result. These attacks were frequently renewed by the enemy 
during the day, but we successfully repulsed every assault and drove our 
assailants back in confusion. During the afternoon the firing revealed 
the fact that the left of the army was gradually being driven in and at 
4 P. M it was evident the enemy was getting in our rear. 

It has been thought important to fix with some degree of accuracy 
the after events of that day. I did not consult my watch. Col. Parrott's 
report says he was ordered to fall back about 5 P. M. His order was re- 
ceived before ours. Col. Shaw says his oi'der to face to the rear was re- 
ceived about 15 minutes before 5. His order and ours were received 
at about the same time. Under the supposition that Col. Shaw is correct, 
about 15 minutes before 5 P. M. an aide-de-camp rode up and directed me 
to face to the rear and fall back. I asked to what point He replied, 
you will receive further orders. The 2nd and 7th Iowa had already gone 



76 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

to the rear. I immediately faced the reg'iment to the rear, and, seeing 
the necessity for a rapid movement, gave the order to double quiclf. The 
aide checked the movement and said we must retire slowly and in good 
oi'der. No further order reached me. Upon arriving upon the high 
ground in front of the 3rd Iowa tents, we discovered that we were 
already surrounded by the enemy, caused by no fault of our own. 
Hardee's corps of rebels had come in by the right flank of our army and 
blocked the passage to the rear; other rebel forces had comB in by the 
left flank. We immediately attacked Hardee's corps and a terrible con- 
flict, in which we lost heavily, was kept up foi- half an hour. At the 
same time we were receiving a brisk fii'e from the enemy upon our left, 
previous right, flank. Hardee's corps now made a slight movement to 
the rear and right and we made a desperate attempt, by a rapid move- 
ment, to cut our way to the rear. The regiment reached the camp of 
of the 3rd Iowa. The enemy on our left advanced rapidly, coming in by 
our left and rear, and pouring into our ranks a rapid fire; the enemy in 
front, at short range, delivering a still more destructive one. 

I had not quite I'eached the 3rd Iowa tents, and was looking to see 
if there was any possible chance of reaching the rear, when a ball went 
whizzing through my left leg. I took out my handkerchief to bind 
around my leg, when a second ball went through my hand, driving the 
handkerchief in with it. Being totally disabled, I sent word to Captain 
Edgington to take command, which he did. At this time we were com- 
pletely surrounded, and the destruction going on was so terrible that to 
have held out longer would have been to suffer complete annihilation. 
Captain Edgington therefore wisely surrendered himself and the regi- 
ment prisoners of war. The time of surrender must have been between 
5:30 and 6 P. M. At least, I know the regiment had been marched off 
the ground but a short time when a rebel regiment camped for the night 
within a few yards of me, and it was then getting dusk. The commander 
of this regiment delivered to it a short and gr'andiloquent address, re- 
lating the brave deeds it had done, and predicting glorious results for 
the morrow. General Hardee and staff came to me and had quite a 
lengthy interview. He directed his surgeon to examine my wounds; 
told me I could retain my side-arms; said he supposed I had heard of his 
tactics; asl^ed about some of his old army friends; then questioned me 
in refei'ence to the number and disposition of our forces. I was very 
careful in my replies not to give him any information that, in a military 
sense, would be of any value. General Hardee had just left when a jiack 
of Texas roughs came up, demanded my sword and pistol, and the leader, 
pointing a pistol at my head, threatened to blow my brains out. During 
the night there was a heavy rain. The gunboats threw shells at inter- 
vals all night, some of which burst in close proximity to where I lay. 



A BRIEF RE VIE IV AND RE FOR TS. 11 

Eai'ly in the morning- of the 7th I heard firing from the right of our line, 
by whicli I icnevv our forces were attacking the rebels. At leng-th the 
enemy was driven past where I lay. I heard some of their remarks, dis- 
tinctly among them, ' Buell has come !' ' The cavalry is getting on our 
flank I' I then got sight of our flag, and Crittenden's division of Buell's 
army marched by in fine order. The surgeon of the division ordered the 
driver of an ambulance to take me to the hospital. It was then about 9 
A. M. I was taken to the rear and saw no more of the battle, but con- 
tinued to hear firing during the day. 

* * * The position at Shiloli was selected for offensive operations. 
On Friday afternoon, however, the enemy made a reconnoissance and 
lively skirmishing took place at the front. It then became evident that 
the enemy zuas contemplating an attack in the near future, from the mak- 
ing of which he would only be likely to be deterred by either finding our 
position too strong to be successfully assailed, or that he could not bring 
up his forces before the arrival of General Buell's army. 

J J. Woods. 
Colonel Commanding 12th Iowa.'' 

REPORT OF COL. TUTTLE, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE, 
SECOND DIVISION. [Vol. X, P. 148 ] 
" Headquarters First Brigade, Second Division, 
General: Pittsburg, Tenn., April 10, 1862. 

I have the honor to report the part taken by the First brigade in the 
action of the 6th and Tth inst. On the morning of the fith I proceeded, 
with my brigade, under the direction of Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, and 
formed line on left of his division. We had been in line but a few 
moments when the enemy made their appearance and attacked my left 
wing [12th and 14th Iowa], who gallantly stood their ground and com- 
pelled the enemy to retire in confusion. They again formed, under 
cover of a battery, and renewed the attack upon my whole line, but were 
repulsed as before. A third and fourth time they dashed upon us, but 
were each time baffled and completely routed. We held our position 
about six hours, when it became evident that our forces on each side of 
us had given way, and General Wallace gave oi'ders to fall back. 
The 2nd and Tth retired through a severe fire from both flanks, and re- 
formed, while the 12th and 14th, who were delayed by their endeavor to 
save a battery, were completely cut off and surrounded. * * * The 
officers deserving special mention are so numerous that I will conflne 
myself to field officers alone. * * * Col. Woods, 12th Iowa, particu- 
larly distinguished himself for bravery and ability on the field. He was 
twice wounded, and, when the enemy was driven back on Monday, was 
recaptured and is now here, unfit for duty. * * * 

J. M. Tuttle. 
Colonel 2nd Iowa, Commanding 1st Brig. 2nd Div. 



78 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

At a reunion October 12 and 13, 1887, of the "Hornets' 
Nest Brigade," General Tattle read the following carefully 
prepared report of the doings of that brigade on the first 
day at Shiloh: 

"On awakening about sunrise on the morning- of the 6th of April, 
1862, my attention was attracted by severe firing at the front. I ordered 
my horse immediately and rode to General Wallace's tent to report my- 
self ready to take command of the brigade. He directed me to proceed 
to the front. I directed the march on the main road, for the reason that 
as the firing was heavy on both flanks, it occurred to me that our center 
was unprotected On crossing the ravine a short distance from the 
junction the main road led through low ground, so I took an old road 
that led to the left and over higher ground. After following this road 
for about a quarter of a mile or more without seeing any person or hear- 
ing a sound of any kind in our front, we came to the corner of Duncan's 
field, at 8:30 o'clock. On looking across the field with a glass I could see 
the bayonets of soldiers, marching in line, apparently towards us. We 
did not wait long until I could make out that they wore the gray I 
immediately ordered the brigade to deploy in the following order: 
Second Iowa on the right and extending to the main Corinth. road, which 
was about 300 yards from the one we had marched out on; the 7th Iowa 
on the left of the 2nd and in the rear of the field, and the 12tli Iowa on 
the left of the 7th: the 14th to the left of the 12th in the woods and form- 
ing the left flank of the brigade. All were in an old sunken road, run- 
ning across the other roads and close to the fence of the field. The 
artillery was placed on higher ground in the rear of the infantry. These 
dispositions were no sooner made than the enemy could be plainly seen 
bearing down upon us in two lines and in large force. While deploying, 
the importance of the position was forced upon me Sherman and Mc- 
Clernand were fighting hard far on the right, Prentiss and Hurlbut the 
same on the left, and but for what opposition we could present there was 
nothing to prevent the enemy from 'marching unobstructed to the camp 
of our division near the landing. 1 therefore determined to hold this 
position at all hazards until the rest of division came up. Cavender 
opened upon them at once with two of his batteries, which soon silenced 
the same number of the enemy's batteries that had gone into position on 
the opposite side of the field, but their infantry pushed on, when I or- 
dered Baker and Parrott of the 2nd and 7th to open fire on them, which 
they did with great vigor and terrific effect. They were driven back 
with great loss, after getting half way across the field. I could see 
many of them were going in an oblique direction across the corner of the 
field to the woods in front of the r2th and 14th, and in a very short time 



I 



A BRIEF REVIEW AND REPORTS. 79 



their lines were attacked with great vigor and determination, but they 
nobly held their ground, and the enemy were compelled to i-etire with 
heavy loss. Soon after another strong force attacked Woods and Shaw 
with the same result. I could tell from the firing that Sherman and 
McClernand on the right and Prentiss and Hurlbut on the left were be- 
ing steadily driven back. I could see, therefore, that we were breaking 
the enemy's center by holding our position, and I expected a renewed 
and more vigorous attack, which soon came along my whole front. This 
was the most terrific assault of the whole day. That in front of the 2nd 
and 7th was soon repulsed, but in front of the 12th, 14th and 8th the 
fighting was stubborn and determined and lasted for over an hour. The 
rebels had got on their mettle on account of this 'Hornets' Nest,' and 
they performed prodigies of valor in trying to take the position. They 
charged up to within a few rods of our lines and would hold their ground 
until most of them fell. This charge was scarcely off until another was 
on, for three or four hours of almost continuous fighting. But they 
were repulsed on all of them with heavy loss. According to rebel re- 
ports, they were beaten away from this position seven times. I reported 
it five times. It was hard to tell when one charge ended and another 
began, for during four hours there was fighting on some part of my line 
all the time. The effect of the desperate fighting here could best be seen 
the next day. The ground was literally covered with the enemy's dead, 
the wounded having been carried away. About 4:30 P. M. General 
Wallace came to me and while I was explaining to him what I had been 
doing during the day, Lieut. Godfrey of the 2nd Iowa came and reported 
that the enemy was passing my right flank and that the woods on my 
right were full of rebels. We realized at once that we soon would be 
surrounded, and after a short consultation we determined to retire the 
brigade I gave the order in person to Lieut. Col. Baker of the 2nd and 
Lieut. Col. Parrott of the 7th, and sent order by staff officers to Col. Woods 
of the 12th and Col. Shaw of the 14th to fall back to the top of the hill 
and get further orders, intending to give the orders to them myself. 
I expected to come on with the 12th and 14th, but about the time the lat- 
ter regiments arrived the 2nd Iowa was in a lively fight, as it was break- 
ing through the lines. On looking that way I saw General Wallace fall 
from his horse, mortally wounded. I sent my staff officers to Colonels 
Woods and Shaw to tell them what to do to get out, and I then rode for- 
ward into the action. By some mistake, in the excitement of the 
moment, my orders were not delivered to Woods and Shaw, and they 
continued fighting until surrounded and compelled to surrender about 
the same time General Prentiss did, about 5:30 P. M. No troops on that 
field fought better than the 12th and 14th, and I was very much mortified 
that they were captured, but it was not their fault." 



80 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

The following is the report of Col. William T. Shaw, 
commanding the 14th Iowa, in the form of a letter, written 
while he was on parole, to the Governor of Iowa, October 

28, 1862: 

" Our line of battle was formed about half past eight o'clock A. M., 
about 500 yai'ds fi-om the enemy's artillery, which at once opened a 
severe fire upon us. The ground was rolling and wooded, but free from 
underbrush, interspersed here and there with cleared fields and cut up 
by several roads. In a short time the enemy's infantry made their ap- 
pearance, advancing in line of battle. I at once perceived that the line 
of our brigade was not pai-allel with theirs, but inclined to it at an angle 
of about forty-five degrees, the left in advance, thus exposing my left 
flank to the enemy some distance in advance of General Prentiss' line, 
upon which it should have rested, and about 200 yards from his extreme 
right. After consulting with Colonel Woods of the 12th, who was next 
to me on the right, I thi-ew back my regiment and the left wing of the 
12th, so as to bring our part of the line parallel to the advancing enemy 
and in line with General Prentiss' division, but still failing to connect 
with it by an interval of about 200 yards. This also improved our posi-, 
tion, which had previously been directly upon the ridge, exposed to the 
enemy's artillery, and gave us that ridge as a partial shelter. The 
enemy advanced steadily in two lines, about 200 yards apart. I ordered 
niy men to lie down and hold their fire until they were within thirty 
paces. The effect of this was that when the order to fire was given, and 
the 12th and 14th opened directly in their faces, the enemy's first line 
was completely destroyed Our fire was only returned by a few, nearly 
all who were not killed or wounded by it fleeing in every dii^ection. I 
then immediately advanced my regiment, in which I was gallantly joined 
by the left wing of the 12th. Passing almost without opposition over 
the ground which had been occupied by the first lines, we attacked and 
drove back their second for some distance, until I was forced t<i recall ray 
men for fear of my left flank being turned, no part of General Prentiss 
division having advanced w^ith us. In this movement we took a number 
of prisoners, including one captain, whom I sent to the rear. Returning, 
the 14th took up its position in the line of battle, and Colonel Geddes of 
the 8th Iowa now formed his regiment on our left, in line with us and 
General Prentiss' division, filling up the gap which had previously ex- 
isted there. That division, however, with the one beyond it, materially 
changed its position in the coui-se of the forenoon, its left falling back 
repeatedly, until the line of these two divisions had swung around almost 
at right angles to us. I now perceived a large force of the enemy ap- 
proaching from the left and front, and immediately reported the fact to 



A BRIEF RE VIE IV AND REPORTS. 81 

Colonel Tuttle, who, at ray request, sent me a couple of brass 6 pounders 
which Were near by. These I got into position just in time to receive 
the enemy. They advanced with the most desperate bravery, the brunt 
of their attack falling- upon the 8th Iowa, by whom it was most gallantly 
borne. I have good authority for saying that the firm x'esistance of the 
center at that time was the chief means of saving our whole army from 
destruction. The fighting continued with great severity for about an 
hour, during which we repelled what General Beauregard in his official 
report counts as three of the five distinct charges made by the rebels that 
day upon our center, and at the end of that time the enemy facing us fell 
back fully repulsed. Colonel- Geddes now withdrew a short distance to 
take care of his wound, and at his request, as his position was more im- 
portant and exposed than my own, I moved to the left and occupied it, 
thus leaving, an interval on my right between us and the 12th. When 
Colonel Geddes reformed it was on the right of General Prentiss, with 
whom Colonel Geddes fought during the rest of the day." 

General R. P. Buckland, who commanded Sherman's 
fourth brigade at Shiloh, in an article read before the Society 
of the Army of the Tennessee, says: 

"I was along the picket line several times on Saturday, the 5th, 
and saw rebel cavalry at different points in our front. I saw Colonel 
Hildebrand, commanding 3i'd brigade and several other ofificers on the 
picket line, watching- the movements of the enemy. I talked with them 
about the situation, and it was the belief of all that the enemy intended 
to attack us during the night or early in the morning. 

Colonel Hildebrand went with me to Sherman's headquarters, and 
we told him what we had seen. He said we must strengthen our pickets 
and instruct them to be vigilant, and keep our commands in readiness 
for an attack at any time. He said that his cavalry had been ordered 
away that morning, and as soon as he received some other in their place 
he would send them out and find out what was in front. 

Late in the afternoon I strengthened the pickets and established a 
line of sentinels from my camp to the picket, with instructions to notify 
me instantly of any alarm on the picket line. 

Officers and men of my brigade were all well aware of the near. ap- 
proach of the enemy; all were expecting an attack; and such precautions 
were taken that a surprise was impossible." 

XJeneral Cheatham, commanding- a division of Polk's 
corps, says: 

"About 10 A. M. I reached the front of an open field, near the cen- 
ter of the Federal line, and discovered the enemy in strong force. His 
line extended behind a fence and occupied an abandoned road. He was 



82 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

advantageously located. I was directed by Colonel Jordan of General 
Beauregard's staff to charge the battery to my front. I put the 2nd 
brigade in motion at double-quick time across the open field, about 300 
yards in width, flanked on one side by a fence and dense thicket of trees 
and underbrush. So soon as the brigade entered the field the enemy 
opened upon us a terrific fire of musketry and artillery, but failed to 
check our movements until we reached the center of the field, when an- 
other part of the enemy's force, concealed by the fence and the thicket, 
opened a murderous cross-fire upon our lines which caused my line to 
halt and return the fire. After a short time I fell back to my original 
position. 

In the charge the 2nd brigade lost many of its bravest and best 
officers and men." 

Colonel Shaver, commanding a brigade of Hardee's 
corps, says: 

" Between 1 and 2 o'clock I was ordered to make a movement to the 
right to dislodge the enemy posted in a dense thicket. I pressed forward 
to within fifty yards of their line, when a terrific and murderous fire was 
poured in upon me. It was impossible to charge through the dense un- 
derbrush, and I discovei'ed that my fire was having no effect upon the 
enemy, so I had nothing left me but to retreat. It was here that Lieut. 
Col. Dean, commanding the 7th Arkansas, was killed." 

Lieutenant Colonel Dean fell within twenty steps of 
the left front of the 12th Iowa. Some of our men went to 
the place where he was; straightened his limbs and put a 
handkerchief over his face; wounded men of his command 
told who he was. A Confederate surgeon found the body 
Sunday night and noted the care that had been taken with 
the body. 

That the place called " Hornets' Nest " by the Con- 
federates, and referred to as such by William Preston 
Johnston, General Bragg, General Cheatham et al., was the 
position occupied by Tuttle's brigade, is easily determined 
from official records, and is confirmed by the testimony of 
many Confederates who were engaged in these charges. 



I 



CHAPTER VIII 



"Union Brigade " — April to December, 1862— Advance 
ON Corinth — Battle of Corinth— Reorganization. 



The second day's battle at Shiloh, April 7, resulted in 
the defeat of the Confederate army, and it returned to 
Corinth in utter rout and demoralization. 

In a letter to General Beauregard, written April 8, from 
Mickey's, General Bragg says: •' Our condition is horrible; 
troops utterly disorganized and demoralized. It is lamentable 
to see the state of affairs, but I am powerless and almost 
exhausted. Our artillery is being left all along the road by 
its officers; indeed I find very few officers with their men. 
Relief of some kind is necessary, but how it can be reached 
I cannot suggest." General Breckinridge, commanding the 
rear guard, writes from Mickey's, April 8: " My troops are 
worn out, and I don't think can be relied on after the first 
volley." 

These reports seem to justify the usual belief, that if 
pursuit had been made by the united forces of Generals 
Grant and Buell they could have marched into Corinth with- 
out opposition. That such pursuit was not made is due to 
the orders of General Halleck, and he alone is responsible 
for the failure. He had ordered General Grant to avoid a 
battle— "In no case will you allow yourself to be drawn into 
an engagement." Again: "In case of an attack you are not 
to pursue the enemy." "General Buell will exercise his 
separate command." When Halleck received the telegram, 
announcing the battle of Shiloh, he replied by telegram. 



84 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

"Avoid another engagement, if possible, until I arrive." 
These orders explain General Grant's letter to General 
Buell, April 7: — 

"Under the instructions which I have previously received, and a 
dispatch also of Friday, from Major General Halleck, it will not do to ad- 
vance beyond a point which we can reach and return from in a day." 

Grant ordered Sherman out on Tuesday. He went as far 
as Mickey's, captured a hospital full of wounded, and re- 
turned at night as ordered. 

General Buell encamped his army along the line where 
Prentiss had been encamped, and Grant's army reoccupied 
its old camps, where the men devoted themselves to the work 
of burying the dead, caring for the wounded comrades and 
repairing damages due to the hard service of two days' 
battle. 

General Halleck did not arrive upon the field until April 
11, when he assumed direction of affairs. Soon after he 
brought the Army of Mississippi (that had been operating 
under command of General Pope and Island No. 10) to 
Pittsburg Landing, and organized his army as follows: 
Army of the Mississippi, General Pope commanding, on the 
left; Army of the Ohio, General Buell commanding, in the 
center; Army of the Tennessee, General George H. Thomas 
commanding, on the right. General Thomas had been trans- 
ferred from Army of the Ohio to Army of the Tennessee, 
that he might command the right. General Grant was 
designated as "Second in Command," but was given no 
special part of the troops over which to exercise this extraor- 
dinary authority; he was, in fact, made a sort of "fifth wheel 
to the coach," upon which General Halleck expected to ride 
into prominence. It is unnecessary here to discuss the atti- 
tude of General Halleck towards General Grant. His effort 
to supersede Grant immediately after Fort Donelson, by 
placing General Smith in command ; the retirement into 
which Grant was placed by this order giving him * ' second in 
command," have all been reviewed. Time righted these dif- 



UNION BRIGADE 85 

ferences, and before the war closed Grant was in supreme 
command and Halleck was chief of staff. 

Brig. Gen. T. A. Davies was assigned to the command 
of the 2nd division, recently commanded by W. H. L. Wal- 
lace, and, on the 21st of April, those not captured of the 8th, 
12th and 14th Iowa and the 58th Illinois regiments — about 
400 in all — were organized as the "Union Brigade," " to be, 
in form, a regimental organization, and to serve as such until 
the respective regiments should be reorganized upon the ex- 
change of the prisoners." 

Of this famous organization, of ten companies, the 12th 
formed one company, known as Co. E, and was placed under 
the command of Lieut. D. B. Henderson of Co. C ; the 58th 
Illinois had three companies, A, P and D ; the 8th Iowa three 
companies, I, C and H ; the 14th Iowa three companies, 
K, G and B. It thus appears that each of the other 
regiments had about three times as many men not cap- 
tured as had the 12th. Capt. R. W. Healy of the 58th Illi- 
nois, senior officer present, was assigned to the command of 
the "Union Brigade," and this organization, with the 2nd 
and 7th Iowa, was given the old designation — 1st brigade of 
the 2nd division. 

About the first of April Major Brodtbeck, because of 
continued ill health, resigned. Soon after the battle of 
Shiloh Surgeon Parker, Chaplain Eberhart and several line 
officers resigned. Lieut. Col. Coulter was granted leave of 
absence, and Colonel Woods was sent to hospital, wounded. 
This left about forty men of the regiment, in charge of a 
lieutenant, to enter upon another campaign. 

The advance upon Corinth commenced April 29th. The 
" slow but sure " tactics of General Halleck kept the army 
building roads, breastworks and approaches, feeling its way 
along the skirmish line until May 30, when Corinth was 
evacuated. 

The Union Brigade had served on the advance line con- 
tinuously, but, as there was only skirmishing, the loss of the 



86 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

regiment was slight, only four wounded, viz. : James W. Pat- 
terson, Samuel C. Smith and Isaac Woodmansee of Co. B, 
and C. A. Coon of Co. G. About the time of the evacuation 
of Corinth so many of the men of the 12th Iowa returned to 
duty from "absent, wounded or sick," that the Union 
Brigade was reorganized ; the members of the 12th desig- 
nated as companies E and K, with Lieutenants Webb, 
Hunter and Fishel commanding the companies, and Lieu- 
tenant Henderson acting as adjutant. This organization 
was with General Pope's command in pursuit of the 
enemy to Boonville, returning to Corinth June 13, and en- 
camping on the railroad south of the city at Camp Mont- 
gomery. 

About the last of June Lieut. Col. Coulter returned from 
"absent sick" and assumed command, relieving Col. Parrott 
of the 7th Iowa. On the 16th of August he was ordered 
with his command to take charge of the outpost at Danville, 
Miss., twelve miles south of Corinth. The following from 
General Rosecrans, with its slur upon the organization, 
shows the importance of the outpost. It seems incredible 
that a commanding general would write such a letter, but 
we find it in the Records of the Rebellion: 

"August 17th, 1862. 
Major Genekal Grant: 

The Mackerel — I mean Union— brigade, reported to General Granger 
520, 300 for duty; advanced as far as Danville where they biovuacked for 
the nigfht. They attacked the pigs of Danville deploying skirmishes for 
that purpose, who opened a sharp fire and brought eight of the hairy 
rascals to the ground before Colonel Tinkham, commanding the station, 
arrived and informed the commander of the brigade that these natives 
were non-combatants as loyal as possible considering their limited infor- 
mation. 

Danville covers the crossings of the Tuscumbia; the Union Brigade 

awaits orders there. It seems to me. General, that it would be well to 

order an additional regiment thei-e, or direct Davies to occupy Danville 

with his wbole division, which protects the bridge crossings both of the 

common and the railroad. 

W. S. Rosecrans, 

Brig. Gen. U. S. A." 



UNION BRIGADE 87 

The additional regiment was not sent; Davies was not 
ordered there with his division; the Union Brigade, notwith- 
standing the slur upon its name, was left to guard the im- 
portant crossings alone, and, although it required about half 
the force on picket every night, it did its duty effectually, 
repelling several attempts of the enemy to cross the river. 
The name Union Brigade undoubtedly helped to strengthen 
the position by giving the impression to scouts and spies 
that a much larger force held the crossings. 

The evacuation of Corinth broke, again, the center of the 
Confederate line. Memphis, after a severe naval engage- 
ment in front of the city, was occupied by the Union forces 
June 6, 1862. General Halleck, with an army of 120,000 
men, was now surely able to go where he pleased in the 
west. Several important movements seem to have sug- 
gested themselves, such as opening the Mississippi river, 
cleaning out enemy from Eastern Tennessee, or destroying 
Bragg's army at Tupelo. Halleck, by attempting to do all 
these things at once, broke up and scattered his arm\' in such 
manner that all was made ineffectual. General Buell was 
sent east along the railroad towards Chattanooga with in- 
structions to repair the road and keep up communications 
with Corinth; General Grant was sent, June 10, to the west 
to repair and occupy the railroad to Memphis. Another force 
was detached to rebuild and guard the Mobile and Ohio rail- 
road to Columbus, Ky. This disposition gave the command 
about 500 miles of railroad to guard; about the same num- 
ber of miles of river to keep open; scattered the forces over 
a large extent of country and left no army for effective oper 
tions against the enemy. 

On July 16, General Halleck was called to Washington, 
and General Grant as senior officer present, was left in com- 
mand of the troops in northern Mississippi and as far back 
as Columbus, Ky., but was not given a regular appointment 
to this command until sometime later. In September the 
Department of the Mississippi was discontinued, and the 



88 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Department of the Tennessee organized, and General Grant 
was assigned to the command. The army had at that 
time been reduced by detachments until Grant had in his 
department in round numbers, 48,000 men, distributed as 
follows: General Sherman, at Memphis with 7,000; General 
Ord, at Boliver, with 12,000; General Rosecrans, at Cornith 
with 23,000; reserve, at Jackson, Tenn., with 6,000. These 
figures include every man under Grant's command, includ- 
ing guards along the railroads, Memphis to Corinth, and 
Corinth to Columbus, Ky. Opposed to Grant were the com- 
mands of VanDorn, Price and Lovell with an aggregate 
force just about equal to his own, but having no railroad or 
other communications to guard, and capable of being con- 
centrated upon any one point with very little delay. 

About Oct. 1, all these Confederate forces were united 
under the command of Van Dorn for at attack upon Corinth. 
The actual force put into the field, after deducting guards 
left at Vicksburg and other points, as shown by official re- 
ports made at Pocahontas Oct. 1, was 22,362 "effective en- 
listed." In these reports "effective enlisted" is found to 
mean men with muskets in their hands, and includes no one 
not actually in the ranks with a gun. With this force Van 
Dorn commenced his movement against Corinth, where 
Rosecrans was in command with a total, including officers 
and non-combatants, .of 23,000. 

The Union Brigade, in its exposed position at Danville, 
was kept constantly informed of the movements of the en- 
emy and was constantly alert to prevent the use of any of the 
crossings which it was guarding. Early in September, when 
Price was moving about luka, the men were in line a good 
share of the time expecting an attack or an order to fall back 
to Corinth. On the day of the battle of luka, Sept. 19, all 
surplus baggage and the sick men were removed to Corinth 
and from that time until Oct. 3, the brigade bivouacked in 
line of battle at the crossings of the Tuscumbia ready to de- 
fend the place or to retreat at a moment's notice. 



BATTLE OF CORINTH 89 

It was thus in line on the morning of Oct. 3, when orders 
were received to report immediately to the Division Com- 
mander at Corinth. The day was very warm, and after a 
rapid marcli of twelve miles, Lieutenant Colonel Coulter re- 
]iorted, about noon, to General Davies in the field two' miles 
northwest of Corinth. The men were much exhausted, many 
had fallen out by the way and those in line were in no con- 
dition to go into battle, but General Davies being hotly 
pressed, ordered the brigade into line on the left of his di- 
vision, where it was attached to the First Brigade — Hackle- 
man's — which was endeavoring to hold the Confederates in 
check until Union batteries could be placed on the new line 
in rear. 

The gallant Hackleman held his ground in front, but the 
enemy overlapped his left and was gaining his rear when he 
received orders to fall back to the new line. With the Union 
Brigade the movement to the rear soon became a race for 
life in order to get out of the pocket before the overlapping 
force of the enemy should swing around and take them in. 
Many of the men who were exhausted by heat, or were 
wounded, fell into the enemy's hands; two of the 12th Iowa, 
finding themselves unable to complete the race, threw them- 
selves into the bushes and lay there until darkness gave 
them an opportunity to reach our lines. Others like Com- 
rade Grossman of Co. C, decided the matter in a sharp foot 
race and won. He had just started to the rear with musket 
at "trail arms" when a strapping rebel fired at him, the bul- 
let striking Grossman's musket and burying itself in the 
stock. The Reb then started in pursuit calling, "Halt, yon 

d Yank! "' This only served to increase the speed of the 

Yank, and the boys say that he so stretched his legs in run- 
ning that his cartridge box struck the ground at every jump 
he made. In any event Grossman reached a rail fence, 
turned a somersault over it, and lay exhausted so near our 
lines that his pursuer dared not follow. Doubtless the 



90 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 IV A IN FA N TR Y. 

famous racer of the 12th keeps the old musket as a relic of 
his sprinting before a big Johnny at Corinth. 

General Hackleman fell while extricating his brigade. He 
never knew that his valor had checked the Confederate ad- 
vance, and turned the tide of battle, which, up to that time, 
had been constantly against the defending army. 

General Davies' division met the enemy in the morning 
at the line of the old breastworks, two miles northwest of 
Corinth; was pressed back to the line near battery Robinett, 
where it rested until night. During the night of Oct. 3, Gen- 
eral Rosecrans re arranged his line of battle just outside of 
the town of Corinth, taking into his line four strong earth- 
works called batteries. Davies' division was formed on the 
east side of the M. & O. R. R., his left near the depot; his 
right at Battery Powell, Hamilton's division on Davies' right 
and Stanley's division on Davies' left; the junction of Davies' 
and Stanley's division was at the depot and Tichomingo ho- 
tel. The Union Brigade was near the center of Davies' line, 
on east side of railroad, on rising ground facing northwest. 

Van Dorn rearranged his battle line during the night, 
and massed his forces northwest of the town, between the 
two railroads and at 9 a. m., Oct. 4, made a desperate attack 
straight on the town and upon the divisions of Stanley and 
Davies. For a few moments the charge seemed to have 
swept everything before it. Confederates were in possession 
of Batteries Robinett and Powell and a few of their men had 
reached the Tischomingo hotel. Davies' division moved to 
the right and recovered Battery Powell, Stanley's men ral- 
lied and regained Robinett, and the heavily shotted guns in 
these batteries turned again upon the enemy, broke their 
strong columns, and drove them from the field. 

The conflict had been short, lasting but an hour, and be- 
fore noon the enemy was in retreat, his dead and wounded 
left on the field where they fell. 

Davies' division had borne the brunt of the battle both 
days and had sustained heavy loss, especially in officers. Of 



BA TTLE OF CORINTH 91 

its three brigade commanders Brigadier General Hackleman 
was killed; Brigadier General Oglesby seriously — reported 
mortally-wounded, and Colonel Baldwin severely wounded. 
The loss in Hackleman's brigade was 33 per cent, of the num- 
ber engaged. The division was highly commended by Gen- 
eral Rosecrans in his report, especially for its gallant action 
in recovering Battery Powell after it had been captured from 
the division on its right. He says: "The details of the he- 
roic deeds of the troops of Davies' division will be found in 
accompanying reports." General Davies in his report com- 
mends the efficient service of the Union Brigade and men- 
tions in particular the gallant rescue of its colors from the 
enemy. 

The Union Brigade, occupying an exposed and impor- 
tant position in the line, suffered severely in killed and 
wounded; only three of its officers and but one officer of the 
12th Iowa escaped the casualities of battle. Three color 
bearers in succession were shot down; once the flag was in 
the hands of the enemy, but was gallantly rescued in a hand- 
to-hand conflict and assigned to Sergt. J. D. Cole, Co. B, 
12th Iowa. He had no sooner received it than he was shot 
through the body, but he crawled to the rear carrying the 
flag with him. The gallant fellow still lives to tell the story 
in his account of the Union Brigade. 

The killed, wounded and missing of the 12th Iowa in the 
two days' fighting were forty, as follows: 

KILLED— Corp. Jacob Ripley, Co A; Sergt. Edward W. Calder, Co. D; 
Corpl. B. D» Campbell, Co. H. 

WOUNDED— Lieut. CoL J. P. Coulter, commanding-; Capt. A. E. Webb, 
Lieut. J. R. C. Hunter, Sergt. John D. Conger, Corpl. H. B. 
Moon, I. H. Bowers, Job Crist, Hiram Dobbins, Samuel 
Jackson, and Nathan Welsh, Co. A; Sergt. John D. Cole, 
Co. B; Lieut. D. B. Henderson, acting Adjutant, N. H. 
Spears, A. L. Kelley and Daniel Stone, Co. C; Sergt. John 
M. Clark, A. M. Blanchard, Andrew J. Bunn, John D. May 
—mortally— and N. G. Price, Co. D; David Schrack and 
James DeMoss— mortally — Co. E; Perry G. Kenney and 



92 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Daniel H. Hasbrouck, Co. F: Corpl. Andrew Anderson, Co. 
G; Sergt. Edward Beckett and Sergt. Camma Gregory, Co. 
H: Lieut. A. L. Palmer, Corpl. Clinton Wade — mortally — 
left on the field; John Schontz, Joel Woods and Delos 
Morgan, Co. I. 

MISSING— William A. Hay ward, Co. A: O. T. Adams. William May- 
nard and Bradner Furguson, Co. B: Nelson Ralston, Co. F: 
Sergt. Benjamin Hayhurst, Co. K. 

The official reports give four killed — doubtless including 
one of the mortally wounded — and seven missing, which 
would include one that was w^ounded and left on the field- 
The total casualities of the 12th Iowa, as given in official re- 
ports is 39. The number of 12th Iowa engaged was not over 
80. The casualities in the Union Army Oct. 3rd and 4th, 
1862, were: Killed, 315; wounded, 1,812; missing, 232; 
Total, 2359. 

The Confederates reported: Killed, 504; wounded, 2 150; 
missing, 2,143; total, 4,798. The Medical Director, U. S. A., 
says: "We buried 1,423 dead Confederates.'' And General 
Rosecrans says: " We captured 2,268 prisoners.'' We leave 
the official reports to settle the differences wnth this comment: 
The Confederate loss shows the gallant and determined 
fight made by them, as w^ell as does the capture of Robinett 
and Powell, over which was desperate hand-to-hand fighting. 
Van Dorn withdrew his forces about noon of the 4th, leaving 
his dead and wounded on the field. Rosecrans did not deem 
his army in condition, after tw^o days' hard fighting, to pur- 
sue the enemy that day, but early on the 5th put it in motion 
to follow the retreating enemy. The Union Brigade joined 
in the pursuit as far as Ruckersville, and then returned to 
Corinth. 

On the 5th of October a spirited affair occurred at Camp 
Montgomery where the Union Brigade had left its baggage in 
charge of wounded and sick men. A party of guerillas 100 
strong attempted to capture the camp. Sergeant Morgan of 
Co. K, 12th Iowa, rallied the few men who w^ere able to 



UNION BRIGADE. 93 

handle their guns and drove off the Rebels, who left four 
killed and three wounded on the field. One of the killed 
had a Major's commission in the Confederate army and his 
oath of allegiance to the United States in the same pocket. 
The affair was referred to by General Davies in his official re- 
port as: "An attack upon the Union Brigade camp by 100 
gurrillas and their repulse by 18 men of the Union Brigade, 
killing four and wounding three of the enemy." 

After the troops returned to Corinth, from pursuit of 
VanDorn, heavy details were made daily for work on a new 
system of fortifications. This kept the men well employed 
until December l~th, when an order was received for the 
Iowa men belonging to the Union Brigade to proceed to 
Davenport, Iowa, for the reorganization of the regiments, the 
prisoners taken at Shiloh having been exchanged. 

On the 18th of December the men of the 8th, 12th and 
14th Iowa, under the command of Lieut. Col. Coulter, left 
Corinth on M. & O. railroad for home. Arriving at Jackson, 
Tenn. they found the place besieged by Forrest's cavalry, 
and, under a strong appeal from the Post Commander for 
help, Colonel Coulter disembarked his men and placed them 
on duty to defend the government stores and depot buildings. 

Forrest finding the place guarded moved north and de- 
stroyed the railroad bridges to Union City, completely 
breaking all communication with the North and stopping the 
supplies for the army. On the 21st Colonel Coulter with his 
squad of Iowa boys was detailed to guard the Engineer 
corps while they rebuilt the railroad and restored communi- 
cation to Columbus, Ky. On this guard duty the command 
was engaged two weeks. During that time the men sub- 
sisted entirely upon such rations as could be procured in the 
country; faring quiet well, usually, for meat and vegetables, 
but poorly for bread and at times procuring food of any kind 
with difficulty. The writer was at that time a member of 
headquarter' s mess and remembers the Christmas dinner, 



94 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

near Trenton, Tenn. It consisted of sweet potatoes and 
nothing more. These were served upon a large log beside 
which they have been roasted. Colonel Coulter, as he 
knocked the ashes from his potatoes, remarked in his pecu- 
liar slow speech: "We read about General Marion serving 
his guest with sweet potatoes and salt. If we had some salt 
and should happen to have a guest we could treat him as 
well as General Marion did." 

Sherman's march to the sea did not produce a more 
motley, ungovernable, dare-devil set of "bummers" than was 
developed from these Iowa boys in the railroad building 
through the swamps of Tennessee in December 1862, It was 
the common remark of the engineers that they felt per- 
fectly safe with such guards; that "If there was a rebel 
within ten miles, these fellows would surely find him whether 
he wore butternut clothes or feathers, walked on two or 
four." 

On January 3, 1863, the railroad was completed to 
Union City; communications were established and the de- 
tatchment of Iowa troops resumed its homeward journey. 
It was transported by rail to Columbus, by boat to Cairo, 
and by rail to Davenport, Iowa, where it arrived on the 7th, 
and was assigned to barracks at Camp Hebron. Colonel 
Coulter here relinquished all command of the 8th and 14th 
and made his report to the Adjutant General of Iowa as fol- 
lows: 

"Davenport, Iowa, Jan. 9, 1863. 

Col. N. B. Baker, Adjutant General, State of Iowa— ^zV.- 
At the battle of Shiloh, the greater part of the 8th, 12th and I4thi Iowa, 
and 58th Illinois regiments were taken prisoners of war. On the 21st 
day of April, a number of men belonging- to these regiments having re- 
turned from the hospitals, General Davies, then in command of the 2d 
Division, determined to combine the fragments of regiments in order to 
make them available in the field, and issued an order to that effect. 
Agreeably to that order, the 58th Illinois was formed into Compannies A, F 
and D, to be commanded by Captains Collins, Glassner and Lynch, re- 
spectively. The 8th Iowa formed Companies I, C and H, commanded by 



UNION BRIGADE 95 

Lieutenants Harper, Beatty and Scott. The 12th Iowa formed Com- 
pany E, commanded by Lieutenant Henderson, and the 14th Iowa 
formed Companies K, G and B, commanded by Lieutenants Shuey and 
Mooreheac^, and Captain Pemberton. The field and staff officers were as 
follows: Captain R. W. Healy, 58th Illinois, Acting Colonel; Captain 
J. G. Fowler, 12th Iowa, Acting Lieut. Col.; Captain G. W. Kittell, 58th 
Illinois, Acting Major; S. E. Rankin, 8th Iowa, Adjutant; George W. 
Swain, 58th Illinois, Quarter Master; Clinton C. Buell, 14th Iowa, Com- 
missary; Dr. G. M. Staples, Surgeon; and Dr. Morgan, 14th Iowa, and 
Dr. A. W. Hoffmeister, Assistant Surgeon. Each original regimental 
organization was kept up separately, each regiment representing the 
whole number of companies belonging with their original letters, and to 
be known as the Union Brigade, but in its form was one regiment in 
the field. When the army left Pittsburg Landing to move on Corinth, 
the Union Brigade with the 2d Division was ordered to march in the 
advance, continuing in that position dui-ing the siege of that place. Its 
pickets were frequently engaged in skirmishing with those of the enemy, 
and several of the men were killed and wounded. On the 17th day of 
May, Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Parrott of the 7th Iowa infantry was as- 
signed to the command of the Union Brigade, and with it, when Corinth 
was evacuated on the 30th day of May, formed part of the command of 
General Pope sent in pursuit of the rebels, as far as Boonville, Miss., 
and on the 13th day of June returned and went into camp at Camp Mont- 
gomery, three miles south of Corinth. On the 29th of June, I reported 
to General Hackleman, then in command of the 1st brigade, 2d division, 
Army of the Tennessee, for duty. Colonel Parrott was relieved at his 
own request, and I was assigned the command on the 1st day of July. 

The brigade remained at Camp Montgomery until the 15th of 
August, when it was ordered to report to General Granger, at Danville, 
Miss., ten miles south of Corinth. Danville being an outpost in an 
exposed situation, much and constant watchfulness was required on the 
part of the command, consequently guard and picket duties were severe; 
but the men, now in excellent health, well provided with clothing and 
wholesome food,- with an abundance of fruit, performed every duty 
cheerfully, and the stay of the brigade at this place may be reckoned 
among its most prosperous days. 

On the 2d of October, the brigade was ordered to fall back towards 
Corinth, across the Tuscumbia river. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the 
3d, it was ordered to join General Hackleman's brigade at Camp Mont- 
gomery. Before reaching this point, the whole division had left, and 
judging from the heavy cannonading, had already engaged the rebels, 
but hastening forward we came up with our division about two miles 



96 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

northwest of Corinth on the Chewalla road, to which point they had re- 
tired and a new line of battle was then being- formed. 

The Union Brigade was posted on the extreme left of the division, 
and had but barely got into position when the firing began with much 
fierceness on both sides. The men went into the action with the cool- 
ness of veterans and stood manfully until the enemy, emerging from the 
woods in front massed in largely superior- force, and also attempting to 
turn our left flank, a portion of our left gave way across the road and. 
taking covert behind some of the trees continued to pour a rapid and 
heavy fire into the rebels; the right of our division had already fallen 
back and from the overwhelming force now on our flank as well as in 
front, were obliged also to retire for a time in good order, and were 
finally rallied and brought into line in the rear of Fort Robinett with the 
rest of the division. This day was one of the hottest of the season, and 
very dry and dusty; the men having marched about eight miles, 
many of them wex'e completely exhausted, suffered much with heat and 
thirst, and fell by the way from exhaution and sunstroke. We lost this 
day Lieutenant Tichenor, a meritorious young officer of the 8th Iowa; 
"who was killed, and Lieutenant Palmer of the 12th, shot through 
the chest and left for dead on the field; he is, however, likely to 
recover; several non-commissioned officers and privates were also 
killed and wounded. Here our division i-ested until between 9 and 
10 o'clock when it was marched to the eastern side of Corinth, and at 
3 o'clock in the morning took position in line on the left of the fort north 
of the place, the left resting on the town, our brigade occupying- nearly 
a central position in the line. Soon after reaching this point the enemy 
opened fire from their artillery upon the town and Port Robinett, which 
was replied to by our guns and kept up with terrible vigor till daylight, 
when the rebel guns seemed to slacken fire and soon after ceased entirely. 
-About S o'clock the whole force of the enemy marched upon our lines. 
In front of our division they could be seen steadily approaching under a 
most terrible fire of both artillery and musketry, but which gave them 
no apparent check. Pinally, the battery on the right of our division 
rapidly retired; soon after, most of the line fell back, some portions of 
which could not be rallied but the greater part returned and with the 
reserve aided in securing a complete victory. Among the troops rally- 
ing to close the fight, the Union Brigade was fully represented. The 
officers and men of the Union Brigade, with some few exceptions, 
behaved manfully, and the list of killed and wounded shows that in 
proportion to the number engaged, they suffered as severely as any other 
regiment in the field. 

Casulties of the brigade please find appended. (See ante.) 

On the moraing of the 5th of October, the Union Brigade under 



UNION BRIGADE 97 

command of Captain Kittell, of the 58th Illinois, was with the division in 
pursuit of the rebels as far as Ruckersville, Miss., when the force was 
ordered back to Corinth, where they arrived on the 13th, after a fatigu- 
ing march of eight days. On the 20th of November, the 58th Illinois 
was detached and was no longer a part of the brigade. The com- 
mand then devolved upon Captain Webb. At this place it remained 
doing garrison duty. On the 11th of December I returned to Corinth, 
having- nearly recovered from the wound received there on the 4th of 
October, and assumed command. On the 17th day of December I 
received the following order from General Dodge, viz: 

Headquarters Division of Corinth, ] 
Corinth, Miss., Dec. 17, 1862. ^ 

SPECIAL ORDER NUMBEB SIXTY-TWO. 

The formation known as the Union Brigade is hereby dissolved. 

The 8th, 12th and 14th Iowa Infantry will proceed to Iowa tomor- 
row, the 18th inst., under the charge and command of Lieutenant 
Colonel Coulter, and report to Adjutant General N. B. Baker, of Iowa, 
for re-organization. 

All men on detached service, except those in the 1st Missouri Light 
Artillery, will immediately report to their regiments. All government 
property and camp equipage will be turned over to the Post Quarter- 
master. 

G. M. Dodge, Brigadier General. 
L. H. EvARTS, A. A. General. 
Geo. M. Reeder, a. a. A. G. 

On the morning of the iSth, agreeably to the above order, the 8th, 
12th and 14th Iowa regiments embarked on the raih'oad train for their 
place of destination, with the hope of grasping friendly hands and enjoy- 
ing for a brief space of time the endearments of loved ones at home. But 
war had not yet "smoothed his wrinkled front," nor were these fond 
anticipations to be immediately realized, for on reaching .Jackson, about 
noon of that day, it was reported that the rebel Forrest, with a large 
force of cavali-y was in that immediate neighbarhood, and that an 
attack might be hourly expected. Colonel Lawler, the commander of 
the post, ordered my command to disembark, to aid in repelling the 
enemy. The order was of course obeyed, although many doubted the 
authority. I felt it clearly my duty, and it was soon acquiesced in by 
all, and the men turned out cheerfully to the performance of whatever 
work might be before us. Soon after getting into line, details for picket 
and yuard duty were made from our regiment, amounting to two-thirds 
of our whole force present, and the remainder were assigned to the de- 
fense of the depot building, containing a large amount of government 
ores, with instructions to "defend to the last extremity, and if over 



98 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

powered, fire and blow up the buildingfs and retire to the court house."' 
The first part of the order we determined to fill to the letter, which we 
thought would render the obeying of the latter part unnecessary. We 
remained at Jackson until Sunday evening, the 21st, employed as on the 
first day. In the meantime large re-inforcements had arrived, and the 
rebels being- satisfied with the feint upon Jackson, proceeded north- 
ward, and destroj^ed a large part of the railroad in their route, taking 
all the towns and nearly all the posts for guard and defense of the road 
from Jackson to near Columbus. 

On Sunday evening, we were ordered forward towards Humboldt, 
reaching one of the destroyed bridges about 8 o'clock in the evening — 
tur-ned out, and after pickets were placed, laid down upon the gronnd to 
obtain what rest and sleep circumstances would permit. We I'ebuilt the 
bridge on Monday, and that night reached Humboldt. My command 
was ordered back to Forked Deer River bridge, three or four miles from 
Humboldt, being assured by the General in command that we would be 
attacked before morning. No rebels having appeai-ed, we were relieved 
in the morning, and again sent forward in the advance, with the En- 
gineer Corps, commanded by Major Tweedale, arriving at Trenton on 
the 26th. Here we remained twenty-four hours. Having procured flour 
the men were busily engaged in making ifc into bread, as that article 
could not be obtained from the Commissary Department. We were 
ordered to subsist upon the country, and as the people seemed to have 
an abundant supply, we helped ourselves without much reluctance, the 
men faring rather sumptuously. On the 28th we reached Rutherford, and 
the South Obion, two miles beyond Kenton, the second day of January. 
Major Tweedale's engineers, with our aid, having repaired substantially 
the road thus far, approaching the working party on the Columbus side, 
within seven or eight miles, we were relieved from further road duty by 
General Haynie, on the 3d, reaching Union City the same day, and 
thence by Columbus and Cairo, arrived at Davenport on the evening of 
the 7th of .January, 1863. 

Very respectfully, 

J. P. Coulter, 

Lieutenan Colonel Commanding l2th Reg't Iowa Vounteers. 
Lieutenant J. D. Cole, who had been absent in hospital on 
account of injuries received at Donelson, returned April 6, 
but was unabled to find his regiment, and therefore escaped 
capture. His account of the Union Brigade is as follows: 

"Although many have heard of the " Hornets' Nest Brigade," but 
few are aware of the existence of the Union Brigade: still there was an 



UNION BRIGADE. 99 

intimate connection between them. When that gallant force under Gen- 
eral Prentiss held the enemies' foi^ces at bay from morning till night at 
Shiloh, there were many members of the regiments who were unavoid- 
ably absent from that entertainment. Many were absent sick, some suffer- 
ing from wounds received at P'ort Donelson, some detailed on special duty. 
To utilize the services of these, the men still able for duty in the 8th, 
12th and 14th Iowa and the 58th Illinois, were organized under the cog- 
nomen of the Union Brigade. Altogether not more than 400 men, but 
in reality the form was regimental— the 12th Iowa composing Company 
E, although after reaching Corinth enough more had reported to make 
two companies. 

When the order for consolidation was made known, there was some 
serious objection. A meeting was called and with all the future legisla- 
tive talent combined in the Brigade it would be strange if some loophole 
of escape could not be found. It was decided to draw up a petition 
addressed to his eminence, General Halleck, although there was a faint 
doubt on the part of the signers whether or not we were making our- 
selves liable to some of the pains and penalties of "The Articles 
of War." 

The next thing to be decided was who should take the part of Arch- 
ibald Douglas, alias " Bell the Cat," it being decided that the writer of 
the petition should present it, which was satisfactory to all except to 
the writer, who now found himself in a box. It looked like the action 
of the Pickwick club, which charitably decided that their investigating 
committee should pay their own expenses while traveling for the club. 

But the one who undertook the task of Bellerophon happily escaped 
the penalty his rashness invited. Seeing a rotund officer on a camp stool 
in front of headquarters enjoying the balmy spring breezes, who, he was in- 
formed, was the General. He hurried forward, saluted, handed the Gen- 
eral the petition and then disappeared. We never heard anything more 
of our petition and many who had desired to return to civil life were dis- 
appointed, but four of the six commissioned officers of our regiment 
immediately sent in their resignations. The Assistant Surgeon, Finley, 
remained with us and I must say that at that time he was very unpop- 
ular. I, being unfortunately the orderly sergeant, had to take the sick 
men to him every morning: he was in the habit of giving them doses of 
very bitter medicine and they did not at that time like it, but after 
further experience in the service they were very much reformed. I 
know that at Camp Montgomery when Dr. Finley prescribed a pail of 
whisky for the company, and when I served it out they all came up smil- 
ing with their tin pannikers and took their medicine like little men. 

Immediately after the battle of Shiloh the Company desk and rec- 

L.ofC. 



100 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

ords were packed, the knapsacks and belongings of our missing comrades 
were gathered up and marked to be sent to St. Louis. Last lettei's were 
written and all civilians were ordered to leave the camp. Friend Geoi'ge 
Henderson, who had three brothers in our regiment, one of whom was 
killed at Shiloh, being desirous of seeing something of the panoply of 
war donned a soldier's uniform and taking a musket marched along 
with us; and good company he was. And while marching through the 
woods and swamps or reclining by the bivouac fires we discoursed of 
•' Fate freewill and foreknowledge absolute." I believe we built eight 
or nine lines of breastworks on our way to Corinth — and one line we 
threw up they told us was nine miles long. One thing, it was a good 
school for the soldier. And as an object lesson no doubt was valuable. 

As the " Confeds" had passed over the ground before, they had left 
very little for us to feed on and as for water, we were often glad to lie 
down in the road and drink from the holes left by the feet of the horses 
or the wheels of the artillery. Sometimes we could only get water by 
going one or two miles from camp where we halted. 

We left Pittsburg Landing April 29th and arrived in the environs 
of Corinth about the 22nd of May. There was constant firing on the 
picket line until the evacuation of Corinth, which took place on the night 
of May 29th. On the 30th we had to shoulder our knapsacks and march to 
Farmington. They kept us marching about in the direction of the 
enemies' retreat until June 12th when we returned to Corinth, where 
orders were read that our division with two others were to garrison Co- 
rinth. We remained here until the 16th of August, when we were 
ordered to Danville, about twelve miles south of Corinth, where we had 
a pleasant camp in a grove. We here had good water and the health of 
the command was much improved by the change; although the guard 
duty was excessive, as being on a detached outpost, we had to furnish 
about 100 guards each day, the Brigade having but about 400 effective 
for duty. 

At 9 A.M., Oct. 3rd, had orders to march and join our division, which 
was engaged northwest of Corinth. It was very warm and many men 
dropped by the roadside before we reached Corinth. We passed through 
Corinth about noon and met the troops retreating about two miles from 
Corinth. We reported to General Davies, who had orders to check the 
enemy's advance that our forces might have time to form another line of 
defense and get their guns in battery. Of course our force was unable 
to hold the rebel force, which had just driven back our whole army. 
They outflanked us and we had to fall back, losing some prisoners, and 
leaving our killed and wounded on the field. We reassembled onthe ridge 
near Fort Robinett. Here we rested awhile with the rest of our brigade, 



I 



UNION BRIGADE. 101 

the 52nd Illinois, 2nd and 7th Iowa. They kept us marching about until 
about 2 o'clock in the morning when we were halted in our position for 
the next day's battle on the Purdy road, our left on the outskirts of Co- 
rinth. Before daylight the enemy commenced thi-owing shells into Co- 
rinth, and it is reported that some were killed and wounded while in the 
hosjiital cots. 

We had orders to lie down on the crest of the ridge, and, after an 
artillery duel, the enemy advanced across the creek in our front. It 
seemed but a few minutes before they captured a redan on our right 
The redan, being open to the rear, our men poured in such a fire that 
they jumped over the breastworks like a flock of sheep and the guns 
belonging to the 1st Missouri artillery were recaptured. 

The report of General Sweeny, who commanded the brigade after 
the death of General Hackleman, said that the Union Brigade joined him 
with 15 commissioned officers and 326 men. The casualties are reported 
in the official army record as follows: 

Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. 

12th Iowa 4 28 7 39 

8th Iowa 3 34 .. 37 

14th Iowa 11 3 14 

oSth Illinois 2 11 6 19 

109 

The preceding table shows the loss was about one-third of the force; 
but the 12th had a greater proportionate loss than the rest, as the num- 
ber engaged was not more than 80, if so many, which made our loss 
about 50 per cent. 

On Dec. 17th the Union Brigade was broken up and had orders to 
turn over all camp and garrison equipage and proceed north to Daven- 
poi^t and report to Adjutant General Baker for reorganization with their 
comrades who had returned from the southern prisons." 

It was expected that the exchanged men were to be or- 
dered from St. Louis to Davenport for reorganization. In- 
stead, they were sent to Rolla, Mo., to repel a threatened 
attack, where they were held until the last of March. While 
awaiting adjustment of these matters Colonel Coulter re- 
signed, on account of continued disability, Capt. A. E. Webb 
assuming command of the 12th Iowa detachment. Many of 
the men received short furloughs to their homes. 

On the 26th of March a paymaster visited the camp, and 
gave the men their pay from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st, 1862. 



102 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

This was the first money any of tliem had received from the 
government since the payment at St. Louis, over a year 
before. 

On the 28th of March the detachment embarked on 
steamer for St. Louis. On the 31st the two parts of the 12th 
Iowa were reunited at Benton Barracks, after a forced separ- 
ation of one year, lacking- six days. 

The partial history'- of the prisoners is given in journal 

of Quartermaster J. B. Dorr, as follows: 

Journal of Imprisonment, 

Sunday, April 6th, 1862. — This book is too small for anything like a 
detailed account of my capture by the rebels at the battle of Pittsburg 
Landing. It was my first battle, and for the first time shot and shell fell 
thick around me and filled the air with their awful music above my 
head. Unexpected to myself I felt no excitement and my horse behaved 
well. At 5 P. M. an aid came with orders to fall back to a new line. 

We continued to march by the "rear rank," expecting to get an 
order to halt and form a new line, as we were aware that the enemy had 
driven in our flanks, and this march was to prevent an attack in our rear. 
The enemy was, however, already in our rear, and very soon after made 
an attack. Instantly halting, our boys opened upon them, and after a 
dozen volleys they gave way and retreated out of sight. The 12th then 
continued to march by the left across a hollow, the 2nd and 7th having 
got out of sight toward the river, the enemy being in strong force on 
the -sides, and pouring in a terrible cross-fire of musketry. At this 
moment I perceived at my right an officer raise a white handkerchief 
and display a flag of truce. I sought and found Colonel Woods, who lay 
in a tent wounded in the leg and hand. Soon our cajjtors ordered us to 
fall in and take up our line of march to the rear. An officer demanded 
my sidearms, and knowing that sooner or later I should have to surren- 
der them, I gave them up. W.e made that night some five miles to 
Bragg 's headquarters, where we camped by laying down small firs in a 
plowed field. Fortunately I had some ham and cakes in my haversack, 
so that Charley and I got a "bite." Covered by a blanket we stayed 
out the night during a most terrible rainstorm and woke in the morning 
lying in a mud puddle. 

Monday. April 7th. — Received a one-third ration of some mouldy 
crackers and bacon and were then ordered to fall in. As quartermaster 
I issued rations for the party which consisted of, as reported: 

12th Iowa, 340; 14th Iowa, 224: 2.3rd Missouri, 330; 2nd Michigan, 3; 
12th Illinois. 1: 12th Michigan, 60: 18th Wisconsin, 106; 21st Missouri, 



PRISON LIFE 103 

46: 5nth Illinois, 10: 8th Iowa, 200; 58th Illinois, 186, makin<if a total of 
1,610. No doubt this exceeds by fifty to one hundred the true number, 
accounted for by anxiety to get rations. 

At this point, after breakfast, the few side-arms remaining- among 
the officers were taken away and we were kept standing for two hours 
waiting orders. At length cavalry came riding up in hot haste announcing 
that the Federals were in pursuit. At once we were put upon the march 
for Corinth, via Monterey. On our route, found the road for miles almost 
lined with wounded, and met troops in squads, companies and regiments 
hurrying forward, mostly armed with the invariable shotguni The road 
is a terrible one, running through a number of almost impassable 
swamps. The progress of the wounded and sick was so slow that we did 
not reach Corinth until 4 o'clock P. M. It drizzled a portion of the way. 
A portion of the way our route ran through a fine country, which im- 
proved as we approach Corinth, which is a pretty town n of three or 
four thousand inhabitants. Three cp^arters of a mile before entering the 
.town, we came in sight of the entrenchments of the rebels, which from 
the circumstance of a swampy stream compelling crossing by a bridge, 
are somewhat formidable at the point where we entered them. They 
consisted of earth banks thrown up and a deep ditch running in angular 
form to the left — and a similar work with a double bank to our right. 
But three pieces of artillery were mounted, all upon the left of the road. 

At Corinth we found -400 more prisoners had come in. We waited 
in the road until night, when in the midst of a pelting rain storm, most 
of our men were put into the cars. The officers and a portion were kept 
standing in the rain until 10 o'clock at night, when we were permitted 
to go into the porch of a railroad depot and stay until morning. 

April 8th. — Found our destination changed to Memphis, and left 
early by rail. Reached Memphis about 6 P. M. 

Wednesday, April 9th. — In the morning found two gunboats nearly 
finished in front of the city, and received our rations. Got a meal at the 
hotel. Found much evidence of sympathy and Unionism Received 
from citizens, provisions, cigars and tobacco and other marked evidences. 

Thursday, A^Dril 10. — Reached Granada before 12 M., and Jackson 
in afternoon of same day large crowds awaiting us at all stations. Jack- 
son should think a pretty place. Saw Governor Pettis, Executive of the 
State of Mississipppi. 

Saturday April 12. — Left Meridian at 12 and reached Mobile about 
9 P. M. At Mobile met John Forsyth, editor of the Register, and 
colonel of a regiment. Went from cars on board of a very fine river 
steamer, the James Battle. Lay at dock until noon next day. 

Sunday, April 13. — Before leaving, Colonel Forsyth came and 



104 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

wanted to know if there was anything he could do for my personal com- 
fort. His kind offer was declined. At noon left for Montgomery. Two 
other boats left carrying a portion of the prisoners to Tuscaloosa. All 
officers above the rank of lieutenant are to be sent to Talladega. 

Tuesday, April 15. — Reached Selma before noon, and said good bye 
to our senior officers, who left here for Talladega by river. Went ashore 
and purchased some things, and received a petty insult from a good sized 
lady. Left about noon for Montgomery, where we arrived about 10 or 11 
at night. Remained on the boat all night. 

Wednesday, April 16. — Left the boat aboiit 9 o'clock and after 
standing a sufficient time to allow a large crowd to observe us, we were 
marched to a cotton shed, which is the prison to which we are consigned. 
It is about 330 feet long by 180 in width. On the sides from east to west 
are substantial sheds, roofed with slabs, iron and tin, fiorty-five feet deep, 
the whole area, including the court, ninety feet wide, and by the length 
of the building is enclosed by a wall, say eighteen feet high. There are 
double doors at one end and one at the other, a railroad running through 
the yard. The day passed with no other incidents than the usual visits 
of citizens coming to see the "Yankees.'' At night we lay down upon 
the ground (no floors.) 

Thursday, April 17. — The day passed in various efforts to make the 
situation as comfortable as possible. The weather being quite warm, no 
inconvenience was felt from inadequate clothing or want of blankets. 
Sinks are constructed in one corner of our prison, and as we number 
upwards of six hundred in this yard, it is easy to see that our atmosohere 
is not too pleasant 

Friday, April 18. — We are allowed, under guard to go to the city, 
containing 10,000 inhabitants, and buy such things as we are able to do. 
There is very little money among us. For myself, my property consists 
of one pair boots, one pair socks, pair pants, pair drawers, one good 
blouse, one fine white shirt, one blue grey overshirt, one cap, one 
blanket, a jackknife and seventy-five cents when captured. There is 
enough due me from parties here, but I have found few willing to pay 
now. 

Saturday, April 19. — Today we have been furnished with a small 
quantity of hay, as well as plank, to make a platform upon which we 
sleep. 

It is reported that the attack on Fort Pillow commenced on the 
loth, and that Halleck has arrived at Pittsburg. 

Monday, April 21. — Nothing of interest to enliven our confinement, 
so we make our own amusement. We play ball, pitch quoits, read, sing 
and walk. Our rations so far have been less than half soldier's alloW' 



A 



PRISON LIFE 105 

ance, and of a most miserable quantity — miserable mouldy crackers, some 
bread, corn bread made of corn, ground cobs and all, and unsifted, baked 
without salt; stinking beef, a little sugar, no coft'ee, a little rice, and a 
few stock beans. 

We live by purchasing of the poor whites in the vicinity of the 
prison, which is on the river opposite the ferry, and at the west side of 
the city. 

Thursday, April 24. — Various reports are received from the guards. 
One that Huntsville has been retaken, and 11,000 Federals captured. Our 
boys, with true Yankee sharpness and industry, have found a way to re- 
lieve the rebels of their spare change. First, they obtained sweet briar 
roots, and made them into pipes; but now they have found, a few inches 
below the surface of our jail yard, a tough clay, and of this they are 
making pipes and selling to poor trash. Some creditable work has 
been done. 

Friday, May 2nd. — Today has been marked by a terrible incident. 
Lieut. W. S. Bliss of a Michigan battery, while as usual purchasing milk 
at a house, near a well to which we go for water, was ordered away by 
his guard. As his canteens were then filled and the woman was making 
his change, he told the guard he would in an instant. Withont even a 
second's delay the fellow drew up and shot him through the heart. He 
fell dead without a sigh or a quiver. Such atrocity is seldom found even 
among savages. Captain Troy, who has command, informed me that 
the guards had orders to shoot if prisoners did not obey their commands, 
so that it seems that the guard was but performing the will of his mas- 
ters. Pity the fellow had not been made in his proper shape. With the 
heart of a wolf he should have his form. 

Saturday, May 3rd. — Bliss' funeral took place today. Only a few 
officers were allowed to attend his remains to the gi'ave. I did not go. 
He was a Mason and leaves a wife and child. This incident jiroves how 
insecure the life of a Unionist is among the rebels. 

Monday, May 5th. — We have received the best kind of news. Dr. 
Fowler, some days our physician, and a noble hearted man, informed us 
that we are exchanged and will leave here for Norfolk the latter part of 
this or fore pai^t of next week. 

Friday, May 9th. — This is the last day fixed by Madame Rumor this 
week for our departure for freedom. It has passed without intimation 
of our removal, but as usual rumor says " fore part of next week." 

Saturday, May 10. — The guards say that the Federals have been 
bombarding Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile bay. We cannot rely 
upon such information. .John Coe, of Company E, died this morning. 
Sunday, May 11th. — Preaching again today by Lieutenant Winslow 



106 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

It is a decided improvement upon those Smidays passed without it. ■ 
Startling and contradictory rumors in relation to Corinth. 

Monday, May 12th. — Another week gone, but our hopes of leaving 
our prison are not excited. It seems to be generally believed that we 
are to go soon, but the rebels have too much on hand just now to 
attend to us. 

Tuesday, May 13th. — Good news today, if true. The enemy has 
abandoned Norfolk, burned public property including the Virginia and 
other shipping. McClellan is within twenty-one miles of Virginia's cap- 
ital, Richmond, from which the cotton and tobacco are being removed 
to be burned. The gunboats from ^Mobile are reported just below this 
city, where the rebels are obstructing navigation. It is evident that 
Mobile is either abandoned or in some danger. 

Saturday, May 17th. — The rebel paper of this city contains informa- 
tion that Corinth is being vacated — that a portion of Beauregard's army- 
has retreated to Grand Junction, thirty-five miles west of Corinth, and 
that he will endeavor to throw his troops into Virginia. Also that Mo- ; 
bile has been captured and is now in our possession. This is glorious 
news, if true. 

Wednesday, May 21st. — At last, thank God, thei-e is a prospect of a 
portion of us going home. Orders have been received to parole the 
privates and non-commissioned officers, and today they commenced mak- 
ing out their descriptive rolls. This is done by taking the height, com- 
plexion, color of eyes, hair, age, name and profession of each. 

Thursday, May 22nd. — The parole is to be confined to privates. 
They are to be sent to Knoxville, Tenn. It is disagreeable to have to 
believe that we are to stay an indefinite period in this place, but at any 
rate we can most heartily rejoice that so many of our boys can go back 
to civilization and to liberty. Descriptive rolls are being completed 
today. The Tuscaloosa prisoners, privates and non-commissioned officers, 
have arrived by steamboat. The first were paroled and left this after- 
noon by cars.* 

Friday, May 2.3rd. — We are busy writing letters to be sent home- 
Thev will probably go Monday. We hear today that forty of our boys 
escaped from Tuscaloosa and got off clear. 

The privates left Montgomery prison at about 6 o'clock, and the 
town, in freight cars, about 7 P. M. 

Sunday, May 25th. — Arrived at West Point 4 A.M. Remained 
until 7. Town entirely destitute of provisions. Left about 10, and 
arrived at Atlanta at 3 P. M., passing through LaGrange. At Atlanta 

[*NoTE— Only a few enlisted men were paroled at this time. The second boat load 
was turned back from Bridgeport. 



PRISON LIFE 107 

received one-half rations of bread and meat. Atlanta is under miiitary 
law with pickets at all points of the suburbs. Left Atlanta at 7 P. M. 
Sat up until 3 A. M., and found all the wooden bridges on the road to 
Chattanooga guarded. Twenty miles from Chatanooga found eight 
engines on switch, placed there evidently for safety. 

Monday, May 26th. — Arrived at Chatanooga abo\it 6 A. M. Situated 
in the beautiful valley of the Tennessee: population, some four or five 
thousand. 

Tuesday, May 27th. — Concluded to push on to second squad of prison- 
ers. Left in cars for Bridgeport at 10 A. M. Left B. at 8 or 9 P. M., 
pressed a dug-out and started down the river. Passed two rebel pickets. 

Wednesday, May 28th. — About daylight discovered a steamboat 
lying by a shoi^t distance ahead. Pushed in ashoi'e and lay In a cane- 
break until daylight. Reconnoitered and found the boat was the Paint 
Rock, the same which brought down the fii'st squad of prisoners, and that 
our boys were still there. It was Bellfontine Landing. After break- 
fasting at a plantation, we crossed the river and found the body of men 
to be those we had been informed they wei-e. On arriving we found they 
had left for the railroad depot. At 4 P. M. got aboard the cars and found 
ourselves beyond the control of rebels. Reached Huntsville on the 28th.* 



Prison Life by General J. H. Stibbs. 
" * * After reaching' Mobile the officers were separated from 
the enlisted men; the Lieutenants were sent to Montgomery and subse- 
quently to Macon. The Captains, and those above that rank, were sent 
to Selma, where we remained three days; were then sent to Talladega 
where we were confined in the court house for a week or ten days. Here 
we were guarded by a company of home guards armed with shot guns. 
The Captain impressed us as the 'pink of politeness.' I remember that 
one of his commands was: 'Now then, gentlemen, you will please come 
to a 'shoulder, arms. ' ' The authorities had evidently concluded that 
Taladega was too near our lines and we were returned to Selma, where we 
were given quarters in an old hotel building, and remained about two 
months About the last of June we were taken, by boat, to Montgomery 
and from their by rail to Atlanta, Ga., where we were under charge of 
Major Leyden for a little more than a week We reached Atlanta on the 
day that 'Mitchell's raiders' were taken out and executed. We were 
confined in the same building with them, and from our windows we saw 
them as they were marched to execution. We were treated with much 
kindness by Major Leyden. We were boarded at a fairly good boarding 

*Q M. Dorr and Lieuteaaat Elwell, Co. E, escaped from the prison at Montgomery 
and made their way to the Union lines, 



108 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

house: received visitors from prominent people of the town. Some in 
leaving- would shake hands and leave in one's palm a ten or twenty dollar 
bill, while others tendered the loan of books. This sort of management 
did not seem to suit the rabid rebel element, and remonstrances were 
made to Richmond, which brought telegraphic orders for our transfer to 
the charge of Colonel Lawton. It was he who had Mitchell's men in 
charge, and carried out the orders for their execution. It took him but 
a day to transport us to Madison, Ga., where we were placed in an old 
cotton mill and consigned to the tender mercies of a gentleman front, 
South Carolina, one Captain Calhoun, who, during the three months 
that he watched over us succeeded in engaging the affections of some of 
us in a degree that time could not efface. A year later when it was 
learned that he was among the prisoners at Vicksburg, some of us walked 
miles for the privilege of saying a few 'cuss' words to him, aud telling 
him what we thought of him, but the orders of our commander protected 
him, and he escaped the lecture and confinement he richly deserved. 
While at Madison the Lieutenants of our party joined us and some offi- 
cers captured at Murfreesboro, were also given quarters in our room. So 
that we had a party of about 250, all confined in the same room. When 
the Lieutenants joined us I insisted that Hale should be admitted 
into the mess to which I belonged. Dear old Hale. He was jjoor in 
purse and poor in flesh. So thin that evex^y joint in his body seemed to 
be trying to make a hole in his hide, in fact there was not much left of 
him except the running gear, and when he sat down one could not help 
wondering whether the old machine would ever get up and move off 
again. Notwithstanding that we received him into the mess as a kind 
of charity patient, he proved a benefactor, for on being provided with 
a red and blue pencil, he demonstrated his ability to transform a rebel 
'5-cent 'shin plaster' into a 50-cent note that would pass current with the 
average Georgian, white or black, and when our funds ran low he be- 
came our banker and kept our credit good. About the 7th of October, 
1862, orders came for us to be sent to Richmond, and paroled. We went 
via Augusta, Ga., Columbia, S. C. — where we spent a day in the peniten- 
tiary — Raleigh, N. C, Welden and Petersburg, to the famous Libby 
prison, where we signed a parole, and the next day, October 13, were 
once more placed under the protection of the old flag, at Aiken's Land- 
ing, Va., and were sent via Fortress Monroe to Annapolis, Md., where we 
were given thirty days' furlough and scattered to our homes. 

While our party was at Selma a committee was appointed to cor- 
respond with General Beauregard and try to arrange an exchange of 
Union prisoners captured at Shiloh for Confederates captured at Donel- 
son. Beaureguard approved the plan and offered to send a committee to 



PRISON LIFE 109 

Washing-ton via Richmond to negotiate the exchange. We selected 
Colonel Madison Miller, 18th Missouri, Major W. M. Stone, 3d Iowa, and 
Captain J. M.Gregg of 58th Illinois. Weeks went by and we began to 
think the mission had been fruitless, when one day at Madison we espied 
the tall form of old Captain Gregg marching up to our prison gate, car- 
rying in his hand a satchel in which was a bag of gold, and an hour later a 
coujile of boxes filled with an assortment of clothing, were brought to the 
prison. We learned from the Captain that the committee had failed to 
effect the exchange but had been offered a special exchange for them- 
selves. This Gregg refused, saying that he would not sacrifice the in- 
terests of his comrades for the sake of bettering his own, and demanded 
to be sent back to prison. Before starting he went to President 
Lincoln, told him his story and received an order from the President di- 
recting the paymaster to pay to Captain Gregg one month's pay for each 
of the officers named on the list held by the Captain. The Captain drew 
the money, invested a part in clothing, converted the balance into gold, 
and with a safe conduct found no trouble in delivering it safely into our 
hands at Madison. The gold he brought us was soon exchanged with the 
guards for Confederate money at the rate of $50 Confederate for $5 in 
gold. This money was expended for food brought to the prison and sold 
by colored people. 

The question: 'How did they treat you?' will be suggested by any 
who read this article, and I must say the sufferings of our men at Ander- 
sonville and other prisons during the later years of the war so far ex- 
ceeded ours that it seems absurd to refer to that matter. Furthermore 
I find that with the lapse of years the memory of the unhappy disagree- 
able features of my army and prison life are continually lessening, while 
the ludicrous and heroic phases grow correspondingly. One of our 
greatest trials, when confined, was the order to keep from us the news of 
the day. We soon perfected our plans for obtaining copies of the daily 
papers, made with the cook, milkman or the guard. At Selma the com- 
mander. Colonel Kent, exerted himself in his efforts to discover the 
source from which we secured the news. Among other stories we told 
him that we had friends outside who gave us the news by signal. To 
test this he instructed the guard to keep close watch for such signals. 
The next day General Prentiss stationed himself near one of the 
windows and began to work his hands after the fashion of using the deaf 
and dumb alphabet. The guard detected the movement and stepping 
from his beat and bringing his musket to a ready, roared out the chal- 
lange: 'Halt them, fingers !' When the order came for us to leave 
Selma, General Prentiss promised Kent that he would tell him the 
secret of our news getting. The day before departure Colonel Geddes 



no TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

drew and excellent likeness of Colonel Kent on the prison wall, repre- 
senting him in a long linen duster with a newspaper stuck in the outer 
pocket showing the head lines of the morning paper. When Colonel 
Kent came in he was led up to the picture, and all hands declared that 
was the way we got the news. 

One of our greatest pests, while at Madison, was the grayback, 
with which the prison was invested before our arrival. I believe if 
proper facilities had been affoi"ded us we might have kept the pests 
■s{ ithin bounds, but Captain Calhoun would not permit us to clean our 
rooms, our persons or our clothes. This so exasperated Capt. Billy Stubbs 
that he procured a vial, and in three or four days succeeded in filling it with 
the critters. Then, watching his opportunity, when Captain Calhoun 
came in Stubbs emptied the contents of the bottle into the pockets and 
down the back of Calhoun's coat. I have often thought since the war 
that one of the most pleasing recollections of my prison life was the 
picture presented by Captain Calhoun that day — as we saw him through 
his window about a 100 yards away — skirmishing about his room trying 
to rid himself of the gray backs with which Stubb's had loaded him." 

From this account and sketches of life of Major Van 
Duzee, Captain Warner et al. , it appears that the prisoners 
were marched to Corinth; transported by rail to Memphis; 
Jackson, Miss.; Mobile and Meridian. That the captains and 
those above that rank were sent to Selma, from there to Tal- 
ladega and back to Selma, where they remained three months. 
They were then sent to Atlanta, Ga., thence to Madison, and 
from there to Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. They were 
paroled October 13, 1862. The Lieutenants and men were 
sent to Macon, Ga., where a part of them were paroled and 
sent through the lines to Huntsville, Ala. The others 
remained in prison until October 18, 1862, when they were 
paroled at Aiken's Landing, Va., and sent to Annapolis, Md. 
Here they remained until December 8, when they were all 
sent to St. Louis, Mo. The exchange of these prisoners 
was announced by General order No. 191 of War Department, 
dated November 19, 1862. 

Soon after the arrival at St. Louis, the regiment was 
hastily armed, partially equipped, and sent to RoUa, Mo., 
where it remained on duty until March. It had just returned 



PRISON LIFE 111 

to St. Louis when it was joined by the non-prisoners. 

A number of oJSicers having died or resigned during the 
year, several changes were made. The following were the 
officers, by commission or recommended for commissions, at 
reorganization. 

Field and Staff:— Col. Joseph J. Woods, Lt. Col. S. R. 
Edgington, Major J. H. Stibbs, Surgeon S. W. Huff, 
Asst. Surg. Myron Underwood, Adjutant N. E. Dun- 
can, Q.M. George H. Morisey. 

Co. A:— Capt. J. R. C. Hunter, Lieuts. B. F. Ibach, D. V. 
Ellsworth. 

Co. B:— Capt. W. C. Earle, Lieuts. J. H. Borger, J. D. Cole. 

Co. C:--Capt. W. W. Warner, Lieuts. G. W. Cook, D. W- 
Reed. 

Co. D:— Capt. Hiel Hale, Lieuts. E. B. Soper, H. C. More- 
head. 

Co. E: — Capt. Robert Williams, Lieuts. James Stewart, 
J. W. Shumaker. 

Co. F:— Capt. J. Wilson Gift, Lieuts. Wm. A. Morse, 
H. J. P. Small. 

Co. G: — Capt. Lloyd D. Townsley, Lieuts. A. A. Burdick, 
Ole C. Thorson. 

Co. H:— Capt. J. H. Playter, Lieuts. Robert Pishel, S. G. 

Knee. 
Co. I:— Capt. E. M. Van Duzee, Lieuts. A. L Palmer, C. L. 

Sumbardo. 

Co. K:— Capt. J. G. Fowler, Lieuts. O. T. Fuller, H. C. 
Merriam. 

When the regiment was mustered in, its companies were 
arranged, according to the rank of captains, in the follow- 
ing order from left to right: B, G, K, E, H, C, I, D, P, A. 

i Upon re- organization the companies were re-arranged, 

according to the rank of captains, and from that time to 



112 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

muster-out stood in following order from left to right: 
C, G, A, I, F, E, D, H, K, B. 

Reunited, re-organized and with a number of new recruits, 
the regiment was once more declared ready for active duty 
and was ordered to report to Major General Grant at Duck- 
port, La., to enter upon the Vicksburg campaign. 

"As long as on earth the green grass grows 
The deeds of our Soldiers shall live in story; 
As long as the sea tide ebbs and flows 
The tale shall be told of our Army's glory. 
As long as the day dispels the night 
Our flag shall shine in its beauty bright. 
The radiant emblem on the shore and sea 
Of a land whose sons can keep her free." 



CHAPTER IX. 



ViCKSBURG Campaign, April-July, 1863. 



The regiment, with a total of 450 muskets, less than half 
the number with which it arrived in St. Louis a little over a 
year before, embarked on Steamer Planet, Thursday, April 
9, 1863, and at 1 o'clock P. M. started down the river for the 
new field of operations. The boat was heavily loaded with 
stores and supplies for the army, near Vicksburg, having 
among other things, coming under the head of "supplies," 
we suppose, a large number of rough coffins piled upon the 
deck. These were suggestive and awe-inspiring to the new 
recruits who were taking their first lessons in actual service, 
but the older soldiers, who knew a good thing when they 
saw it, at once appropriated the boxes for sleeping apart- 
ments, claiming that it was best to make use of them when 
they could, for it was not likely that they would be fortunate 
enough to "draw'' such things when they needed them. 

As passengers on board were Mrs. General Calhoun and 
Mrs. Jeff. Thompson, wives of prominent Confederate 
officers. They had attempted to go North, but had been 
stopped at St. Louis, and were being returned, under guard, 
to their homes near Helena, Ark. They were duly delivered 
to the charge of General Prentiss commanding post at 
Helena. 

Without incident of interest the regiment arrived at 
Duckport, La., nine miles above Vicksburg, at 1 o'clock P. 
M. April 14, and was assigned, with the 8th and 35th Iowa, 
as 3d brigade. Colonel Woods commanding, of 3d division, 
General Tuttle commanding, of 15th corps, General Sher- 



1 14 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y 

man commanding. Camp was established in a cornfield, 
behind the levee, where the ground surface was at least six 
feet lower than the surface of the river. The furrows be- 
tween the corn rows were full of water and could be 
drained only by digging holes for the water to run into and 
using the dirt from the holes to level up within the tents. 
Just below the camp a canal was being dug which was in- 
tended to enable transports to pass from the river into 
Walnut Bayou, thence to the river below Vicksburg. 
Details, which on several occasions included the entire regi- 
ment, were made daily for this work on the canal. The 
project failed and the canal was finally abandoned.* 

On the night of April 16, seven gun boats and four 
transports, loaded with stores, were sent down the river and 
past the batteries of Vicksbug. One of the transports was 
sunk, but the experiment proved that supplies could, in this 
way, be carried past the batteries. 

April 24, Adjutant General Thomas, from Washington, 
reviewed the army. After the review the troops were 
formed in a solid square and were addressed by the Adjutant 
General and other officers of the army. 

The successful passage of transports settled the ques- 
tion of supplies, and General Grant determined to change 
his base of operations and march his army below Vicksburg. 
On the 22nd of April McClernand's corps, having reached 
the river below the city, seven more transports loaded with 
supplies were sent past the batteries, and held by McCler- 
nand for such service as might be required. All the army, 
except the 15th corps, was then sent by land to join Mc- 
Clernand. Tuttle's division, under marching orders, was di. 
rected to construct a wagon road along the banks of the 
canal to Walnut Bayou, while General Sherman, with Blair's 



*NOTE. — After the war the river, at a time of high water, broke througrh 'the levee 
at this point and changed its channel (o the canal route, leaving- Vicksburg several 
miles from the river. 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 115 

division, on transports, moved up the Yazoo River, and 
made a strong demonstration against Haines' Bluff in order 
to attract attention from the movements below Vicksburg. 
On the last day of April General Grant, with the 13th and 
17th corps, crossed the river below Grand Gulf, and next 
day defeated the enemy at Port Gibson, and secured a firm 
footing for his army on the east side of the river. He then 
ordered Sherman to join him immediatel}" with two of his 
divisions and to leave the other division to bring forward a 
wagon train of supplies. 

Tuttle's division, with only such baggage as could be 
carried on the march left Duckport at 3 P. M. Saturday, May 
2, and, marching v^ia the canal and Walnut Bayou, arrived at 
Richmond Sudnay night. From Richmond the march was 
continued via Roundabout Bayou, Bayou Vidal and Lake St. 
Joseph to Hard Times Landing, opposite Grand Gulf, where 
the division arrived Thursday, May 7, at 10 A. M. During 
the march the weather was pleasant, the roads good, the 
country line and rich in vast fields of growing corn, about 
knee high. The plantation buildings were the best we had 
seen anywhere in the South, but were entirely abandoned by 
white people and left to the negro servants who were caring 
for things even after "Massa run away." 

Upon arrival at the river, the regiment was marched 
immediately upon the steamer Chessman and carried over to 
Grand Gulf. The Chessman was one of the boats that had 
passed the batteries, and showed, by riddled woodwork 
and smokestacks, the terrible fire to which she had been sub- 
jected. At Grand Gulf five days' rations of crackers and 
coffee were issued, to be stored in haversacks. The men 
were then informed that meat would be supplied from the 
country, and were cautioned against waste or extravagant 
use of crackers, as it was uncertain when they would receive 
more. With these limited supplies the command cut loose 
from communication with the outside world, and, at 10 A. M. 



116 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

Frida}'', May 8, started eastward to join the balance of the 
army already on its way to the rear of Vicksburg. 

Sunday, May 10th, we rested at Rocky Springs all day 
waiting for the different commands to get into position. The 
country from Grand Gulf to Rocky Springs had been entirely 
stripped of provisions of all kinds. Our men were therefore j 
compelled to live upon the haversack supplies, and before 
noon on Sunday found that the crackers were exhausted, \ 
and that the only resource left them was to steal rations 1 
from the army mule, and eat parched corn or go supperless 
to bed. During the night some beef cattle were driven in 
and issued to companies, Indian fashion, on the hoof. The ||| 
animal assigned to a company was killed, dressed and 
divided among the men, each man taking his share and 
cooking the entire ration, eating his supper and putting 
away in his haversack ration for breakfast and dinner next 
day. This plan was substantially followed during the 
campaign; details of men would drive in all cattle they could 
find; kill and bring in the sheep and hogs. At night these 
supplies were distributed. Each man then cooked his own 
share by broiling it over the coals from the end of his ram- 
rod, or frying in the "half canteen." As time for cooking 
meat for breakfast or dinner could not be depended upon it 
was usual to cook the entire ration at night. For ten days 
the army lived on fresh meat, with only occasionally a little 
corn meal mush or other corn ration gathered from the 
country. During the hot days the fresh meat in haversack 
did not always retain its freshness and then the men had a 
variety by eating stale meat for dinner. 

Monday morning, May 11, the army resumed the forward 
movement toward Edward Station, a place on the railroad 
midway between Jackson and Vicksburg. McPherson's, 17th, 
corps had the right; McClernand's, 13th, corps the lefti 
guarding the crossings of Black River, and Sherman's, 15th > 
corps the center. 

The armies now confronting each other near Vicksburg 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 117 

>\rere of very nearly equal strength. Pemberton's returns 
of March 31st show an effective force, in round numbers, of 
50,000. Grant's returns of April 30th show within 100 men 
of the same number. Of the Union army, one division, 
Blair's, about 5,000, was on the west side of the river guard- 
ing trains, etc. This left Grant's force on the east side of 
the river not over 45,000 men. Pemberton had a part of his 
force, about equal to Blair's division, on duty at Haines' 
Bluff, Chickasaw Bayou, and Jackson, Miss. There is, per- 
haps, no campaign of the war over which there is such per- 
fect agreement as to movements, numbers engaged and 
results accomplished as that of Vicksburg. It is therefore 
unnecessary to enter into the details of the campaign, in 
which our regiment bore its full share of privations and 
hardships without complaint. 

On Monday, May 11, w^e bivouacked at Auburn ; May 
12, at Fourteen-Mile Creek. At this crossing McPherson 
had an engagement, but forced the passage, capturing sev- 
eral prisoners, from whom it was learned that the enemy was 
concentrating at Jackson and that Gen. Joe. Johnson was 
expected to take command. General Grant at once deter- 
mined to disperse this force rather than have it hanging on 
his flank. He therefore ordered McPherson to turn his 
head of column towards Jackson by the way of Clinton; Mc- 
Clernand to come up to Raymond and Sherman to move to 
Mississippi Springs and thence by direct road to Jackson. 
These movements threw Sherman to McPherson's right and 
to the right of the army. The 15th corps reached 
Raymond about 9 P. M. on Wednesday the 13th, and soon 
after met a force of the enemy which the advance guard 
was unable to drive away. The corps deployed and advanc- 
ing in line of battle drove the enemy through Mississippi 
Springs. About 4 P. M. it commenced to rain and the army 
was ordered to bivouac in line of battle just east of the 
town. Thursday morning reveille was sounded at 3 o'clock, 



I 



118 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

the men very quickly disposed of breakfast — beef, cooked 
the night before — and as soon as it was light started for 
Jackson, driving the outposts of the enemy before them. The 
rain had continued to fall all night and was still pouring in a 
steady stream, tilling all the low grounds and ditches so that 
the men were often compelled to wade knee deep in water, yet 
they pressed on until within about one and one-half miles of 
Jackson when the enemy was found to be in force and 
strongly entrenched. 

During the march McPherson's guns had been frequently 
heard over to the left along the Clinton and Jackson road, 
and occasionally the long line of blue was seen sweeping over 
some cleared field, driving the gray before it. Then again 
the advance would be checked for a time as some strong po- 
sition gave the enemy a chance to make a stand. The ad- 
vance of McPherson and Sherman had thus been in conjunc- 
tion and both reached the defences of Jackson at about the 
same time, and prepared to attack immediately. 

Companies "B" and "C" of the Twelvth were deployed 
as skirmishers and advancing across a low meadow they 
drove the enemy inside his works and developed his position. 
An advance by Tuttle's division was ordered but before the 
line had arrived within musket shot the rebels fired a part- 
ing salute from a field battery; hastily left their guns and 
retreated across Pearl River closely followed by our skir- 
mishers. Sherman's corps from the south and McPherson's 
from the west entered the captured Capital of Mississippi at 
the same time. As the skirmishers of the Twelfth Iowa went 
over the works they found a camp complete, tents standing, 
camp equippage, knapsacks, etc., just as they were left when 
the troops that had occupied the camp were called into line. 
Even the untasted dinner was standing ready cooked, and 
was very unceremoniously disposed of by the men of the 
Twelfth as they came over the works in line of battle and 
rushed through the camp. Our troops occupied the city and 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 119 

were distributed so as to protect themselves against attack. 
Fires were kindled, clothes were dried and such rations as 
could be secured were cooked and biovuac was established for 
the night. A large number of cotton bales found near the part 
of the line occupied by the Twelfth were appropriated, 
opened up and used for beds. For the first time in the service 
many of the men slept on -'downey bed" their uniforms next 
morning bearing evidence that they had "been in the cotton." 

Friday, May 15, McPherson's corps was ordered toward 
Vicksburg and Sherman's corps was directed to hold Jack- 
son and await orders. The Third Brigade of Tuttle's divi- 
sion was sent out four miles on the Memphis Railroad, with 
orders to destroy the road from that point to Jackson. The 
method adopted was one which afterward became the prac- 
tice in all our raids: The regiment formed along the track, 
and, at a given signal, upset a section equal to the whole 
length of the regiment. The ties were then wrenched from 
the rails and piled up, and the rails laid across the pile. Fire 
was then applied to the pile, and when the rails were red-hot 
in the middle the ends were seized and the rail twisted in 
such manner that it could not be used again without being 
put through a rolling-mill. During the day Co. C was on 
picket. A record kept by one of the company says: " We 
were stationed near the splendid residence of the late Brig- 
adier General Griffith, C. S. A., and during the day captured 
nine grayback geese belonging to the forces of the said Gen- 
eral Griflith. Their uniforms proved them enemies, and 
they were condemned to be executed." The work assigned 
liaving been completed, the brigade returned to Jackson 
with twenty prisoners, captured while trying to pass through 
the lines. The men occupied the bivouac of the previous 
night, and feasted on such captured rations as had come to 
the share of each. Company C reported: "Full rations of 
goose and enough left over for tomorrow." 

Saturday the corps was engaged in collecting and de- 



120 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR V. 

stroying Confederate army stores, including an arsenal, iron 
foundry, several establishments for the manufacture of 
army supplies, railroad depots, etc. The large hotel called 
"Confederate House'" shared the fate of the public buildings, 
though it was not included in the orders. It was reported 
at the time that the building was tired by some soldiers who 
were captured at Shiloh and were taken through Jackson as 
prisoners. They were permitted by the guard to go to this 
hotel for supper, but having only greenback to pay with 
were refused supjDer and insulted by the proprietor of the 
hotel. To revenge the insults they had fired the hotel. This 
report is confirmed by General Sherman in his memoirs. 

About 1 o'clock General Sherman received notice that a 
battle was being fought at Champion Hill, and he was di- 
rected to bring his corps to that point as quickly as possible. 
With his usual promptness Sherman had his corps on the 
road within half an hour and marched it to Clinton, ten miles, 
without a halt. Here he met a train of ammunition and a 
few supplies which had been brought forward by Blair's di- 
vision. Two crackers were issued to each man, the first 
that they had seen since leaving Rocky Springs, and for 
once the much despised "Hardtack'' received a hearty wel- 
come. One dollar apiece w^as freely oifered for crackers 
with few sellers. 

After a short halt at Clinton, with just time to make a 
cup of coffee, the march was continued to Bolton, ten miles 
farther. The last part of this march was very tedious on 
account of darkness, bad roads, broken bridges, etc. The 
ammunition train, or artillery, would block the road compell- 
ing frequent halts and delays when the men would drop 
dowm in their places and be sound asleep in a moment. It 
required close watching to prevent some from being left 
when the column moved on. Many of the men were so ex- 
hausted that they slept while marching along the road, 
and were only awakened when, at some halt, they ran 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 121 

against their file leader. The command reached Bolton at 2 
A. M. of the 17th, where it was learned that the battle of 
Champion Hill had been fought and won by the 13th and 
17th corps and that the enemy had retreated to Black River. 
Sherman halted his corps until daylight, then, under orders 
to gain the flank of the enemy, he took a road leading north- 
westerly towards Bridgeport. A few miles from Bolton the 
command passed the plantation of Jefferson Davis, Presi- 
dent of the Confederacy. It seemed to be in a dilapidated 
condition, no one but negroes about, and these evidently not 
unwilling to have the Yankee soldier take away the few head 
of cattle that remained on the premises. The command 
reached Bridgeport on Big Black River at sunset, having 
marched twenty-two miles. The day had been exceedingly 
warm; water very scarce, so that the men had suffered for 
enough to drink. This, added to the long march of the night 
before, used up a great many men, and compelled them to fall 
out of ranks, and take their time to get to camp, 

During the night the crossing of the river was forced a 
pontoon bridge laid and at sun rise on the morning of the 
18th we crossed the river and continued the march on Wal- 
nut Hills road. This brought Sherman's corps to the north 
of Vicksburg, and between that city and Haines' Bluff. The 
cavalry was dispatched to Haines' Bluff to disperse any force 
that might be stationed there. The infantry pressed on until 
the head of column reached nearly to the Mississippi River 
north of Vicksbarg effectually shutting the ciiy in on the 
north side. In the meantime the Thirteenth and Seventeenth 
corps had fought the battle of Big Black on the 17th; forced 
the crossing at the railroad bridge, and were closing in on 
Vicksburg from the east. At about 4 o'clock P. M. Sher- 
man's corps was in position, his line of battle along Walnut 
Hills facing the city, just out of range of the enemy's heavy 
guns. Steel's division on the right, its right flank reaching 
to the river bluff, Blair's division on the left and Tuttles' in 



122 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

reserve, in which position the corps bivouacked for the 
night. 

Early on morning of 19th our brigade was ordered on a , 
reconnoisance and reached Chickasaw Bayou. A rebel bat- 
tery was abandoned on our approach, the guns and ten 
prisoners falling into our hands. From this point we suc- 
ceeded in opening communication with our gunboats in the 
Yazoo River, giving the first information, tothe people of the 
North, that Grant was in position in rear of Vicksburg. 
The brigade returned to its place in line about noon, and re- , 
ceived orders to be ready for an attack upon the f ortifica- ; 
tions in our front at 2 o'clock. Our division being in reserve 
the regiment was not actively engaged in the assault. One 
company, "C," was detached to carry ammunition to the front 
line and supply those in need. In this work the company 
lost one killed, Norton T. Smith. Of Company "A," Francis 
C. Cromwell, was wounded. The assault failed but the 
troops held the advance position gained and hastily prepared 
entrenchments were made and batteries established at various 
points within easy range of the enemy's works. ! 

Early on the morning of the 20th the regiment was 
moved forward to one of these advanced positions, under the i 
brow of a hill, where it bivouacked in battle line. Heavy 
details were made to entrench a battery in our immediate i 
front. On Thursday morning, May 21, communications were 
opened, by way of Chickesaw Bayou, and rations were again i 
received and issued in regular order, after an interruption of 
eighteen days. 

The failure to capture the city on the 19th had not con- 
vinced General Grant and his corps commanders that it was 
impossible to take the works by assault. Arrangements 
were therefore made, and orders issued, for a combined 
attack by the three corps at 10 A. M. May 22d. Promptly at 
the time appointed the troops designated for the purpose 
made a very determined assault along the whole line. A few 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 123 

men from each corps succeeded in passing the abatis; cross- 
ing the ditch; and planting their colors on the enemy's works, 
but nowhere was a lodgement made in sufficient force to 
drive the enemy out of the works. General McClernand> 
however, claimed that he had made such a lodgement and 
would be able to capture the works in his front if he could 
be properly supported by the other corps. 

General Grant at once ordered a renewed attack by all 
the corps at 3 o'clock. The Second and Third brigades of 
Tuttle's division were, during the forenoon, in reserve, massed 
in a ravine to the left of the Graveyard road. They were or- 
dered to make the renewed assault, and for that purpose 
were formed along the Graveyard road, the Second brigade 
(Mower's) in front, closely followed by the Third brigade, 
left in front, with orders to move by the flank down the 
Graveyard road against the Stockade Redan, and, if lodge- 
ment could be made, to deploy the Second brigade to the 
right and the Third brigade to the left, and hold the works 
until re-enforced. This formation placed the Twelfth Iowa 
at the head of its brigade, Company C, at the head of the 
regiment. In the assault General Mower and a few men 
at the head of his brigade reached the Redan and "planted 
the colors of the Eleventh Missouri on the slope of the 
works, but he was unable to bring enough of his men past 
the obstruction to deploy. The left of the Twelfth Iowa, in 
advance, reached a point 400 yards from the Redan, where it 
found further advance blocked by the other troops and was 
deployed on the right of the road, behind a ridge, in support 
of the Second Iowa battery, to cover the retreat of the other 
troops. In this position, its left on the Graveyard road, the 
regiment bivouacked for the night. Its loss during the day 
was one man — Corp. C. E. Merriam, Company K, wounded. 
This charge satisfied all that Vicksburg was not to be 
taken by direct assault and the army settled down to regu- 
lar seige operations, The Twelfth entrenched its bivouac 



124 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

and leveled the side hill to form sleeping places and built 
shades of canes from the brakes near by. It furnished its 
heavy detail each day and night for pickets, sharpshooters 
and working parties in trenches and approaches. Siege 
guns on land and mortars from gunboats in the river kept a 
rain of iron falling within the works. Among our forces, 
casualties, to those on picket or in trenches, were of frequent 
occurrence, for not a head could show itself above our en- 
trenchments but it became a target for the sharpshooters of 
the enemy. The water for the regiment was obtained from a 
spring at our left front between the lines. The approach to 
the water w^as within range and in plain view of the enemy's 
sharpshooters, and any one going for water in daylight had 
to run the gauntlet of their fire. Drinking water was there- 
fore at a premium, and was sold in camp at 25 cents a can- 
teen. Several casualties occurred in the regiment while on 
picket duty. June 5th Captain Warner, Company "C," was 
wounded in arm. June 8th, Edward H. Adams, Company 
"C," lost his leg by cannon shot and D. E. McCall, Company 
"C," was slightly wounded. 

On the 2nd day of June Governor Kirkwood and 
Adjutant General Baker and other prominent officials 
from Iowa visited us in camp. General Baker, anxious, 
no doubt, to have a good story to tell the folks at 
home, crawled along the trenches to a picket post 
where he borrowed a Springfield and poking it under 
the head log, the muzzle pointing out over Vicksburg, pulled 
the trigger. As usual a quick response came from the 
other side, and a rebel bullet struck a tree with the well- 
known ' 'spat, " ten feet above the General's head. This caused 
the gallant lowan to drop his gun, fall flat in the ditch, and 
with an : "I tell you, boys, that was close, wasn't it ?" Make 
a hasty retreat on all fours. No doubt the story of his 
" close call in trenches at Vieksburg '' was often told by the 
Adjutant General of Iowa to his admiring friends at home. 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 125 

Soon after Grant's investment of Vicksburg, General Joe. 
Johnson of the C. S. A. undertook to organize a force for the 
relief of the besieged city. After dark, June 11th, the Twelfth 
Iowa was ordered out, with its brigade, to resist a demon- 
stration made by some of Johnson's forces near IJaines' 
Bluff. The brigade was moved out along the Graveyard 
road, and its place in line was taken by Lightburn's brigade 
of Blair's division. After getting fairly out of position, the 
brigade was halted, and stood to arms in the road all night. 
In the morning it was bivouacked, on the exact ground it 
had occupied May ISth, with orders to be in readiness to 
march at a moment's warning. The regiment was held under 
these orders, but furnishing regular fatigue details until June 
22d, when it was marched to Bear Creek, near Black River, 
as a part of the command of General Sherman sent to guard 
the rear. Here about one-half of the regiment, at a time, 
was constantly on picket or patrol duty, guarding the roads 
from Black River bridge to the Brownsville road. While 
this duty was heavy it was a relief from the work in trenches, 
and was accepted as a very desirable change. July 2d. tents 
and camp and garrison equipage left at Duckport two months 
before were brought forward and set up in a very pleasant 
grove. Bunks were arranged in all the tents in this way : 
Four stakes were driven into the ground to form the corners 
of the bunk, end pieces and side rails were fastened on and 
canebrakes woven in for the bottom of the bed. These 
bunks were found to be more comfortable sleeping places 
than the damp ground. Our time to enjoy this pleasant 
camp was very short, for two days later, July 4th, the glori- 
ous news of the surrender of Vicksburg reached us ; and 
with it came orders to march at once and attack Johnson at 
Black River. The men were inclined to think that the results 
accomplished by this army in two months, ending in the cap- 
ture of Vicksburg with 40,000 prisoners; opening up the 
Mississippi River from its source to the gulf; w^ith all tha 



126 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Other happy results of a brilliant campaign, entitled them to 
a full holiday on the 4th of July, with the privilege of march- 
ing into Vicksburg and beholding -with their own eyes the 
fruits of the victory. But Grant and Sherman were never 
content to rest on victories won, while an enemy was in 
sight. Accordingly, at 3 o'clock P. M., we left our comfort- 
able camp and all our baggage in charge of those who were 
sick, or otherwise unable to march, and again took the road 
towards Jackson. Some delay was occasioned in securing 
the crossing and building a bridge over Black River, but 
at about 5 o'clock P. M. of the 6th, Tuttle's division crossed 
the river, and driving a force of the enemy before it, marched 
five miles to a point where the road debouched from the low 
ground and timber upon high ground and open fields, where 
the line was deployed. It was after 9 o'clock when this posi- 
tion was reached. As soon as the line was formed, guns 
were stacked, and the men lay down to wait for daylight. 
Here occurred a laughable incident afterwards referred to 
in the regiment as the " Mule Raid." When the army halted, 
some teamster hitched a mule to a rail fence near the line of 
gunstacks. About the time the men were sleeping their 
soundest, that mule, with a bray as startling as a bugle call, 
yanked the rail out of the fence, and swinging it clear of the 
ground, struck the gunstacks and knocked down a whole 
row of them at the first rush. The clatter of falling guns, 
the loud braying and the rushing mule, caused some half 
awakened soldier to cry "cavalry.'' This cry brought every 
man to his feet, and to his gun, and with the confused din 
still ringing in his ears, each man seemed possessed with the 
idea that the rebel cavalry had charged our lines. The 
writer and the Orderly Sergeant of his company were sleeping 
together near the head of the company line. Springing to 
his feet at the first alarm the said Orderly was observed with 
his musket at a "charge against cavalry " making the " right 
rear vaults" until the point of his bayonet had swept around 



JACKSON, MISS. 127 

the entire circle. He then came to "order arms," and, as 
the true cause of the alarm dawned upon him, dropped into 
his place again, apparently as fast asleep as before. His 
example was followed by every soldier of the company, if not 
of the regiment, as though each would have his comrade 
think, "I was not awakened." The Thirty-fifth Iowa was 
making its first campaign in the field, having joined the 
brigade in April directly from guard duty at some station 
on the river. When ordered to active service in the field the 
men were furnished rubber blankets, and every man was the 
happy possessor of anew "gum, "bright and clean, while the 
Eighth and Twelfth were but poorly supplied with these 
comforts. In the bivouac, on the night of the mule raid, the 
Eighth and Twelfth were in the first line, the Thirty-fifth 
in second line a few yards in rear. Whether or not the older 
regiments recovered from the panic sooner than the newer 
troops, or not, we will not undertake to say, or how it came 
about that when the 35th boys were ready to lie down again 
large numbers of their rubber blankets had disappeared. 
They explained the matter by saying: "This whole scare 
was gotten up by you fellows of the 8th and 12th just to get 
a chance to steal our rubbers." Next day when the rain 
brought out all the rubber blankets for use they persisted in 
their charge by saying: "See! every last man of the 8th 
and 12lh has a new rubber, while the 35th is almost desti- 
tute." Ever after during the service it was a common chal- 
lenge from the 35th to members of the other regiment when- 
ever they met : " Where'd you get that rubber ? " " Draw'd 
it, to be sure," was the stereotyped reply. 

On the night of July 7th the command bivouacked 
in a cornfield near Bolton. During the night it rained 
very hard, the creek overflowed and the whole field 
was covered with water. The men lying asleep between 
the corn rows were suddenly awakened to find water run- 
ning in on their blankets; they shifted to the top of corn 
rows only to find these under water, then, as a final resort 



128 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

they made a raid upon the fence and each man securing a 
rail, roosted for the remainder of the night. On the 8th the 
Fifteenth corps arrived at Clinton. Here the Ninth corps, 
commanded by General Parke, passed to the left taking a 
road to north of main road. This corps was composed of 
Eastern regiments that had come to Haines' Bluff during the 
seige of Vicksburg. They had not yet fallen into Western 
ways of campaigning but wore complete dress uniforms; 
carried heavy knapsacks and looked so decidedly worn out and 
jaded by their march in the dust and mud under a July sun, 
that our boys felt inclined to guy them and advised them to 
"shed" their good clothes, throw away their packs and cease 
to make mules of themselves. 

On the march from Bolton to Jackson the troops suf- 
fered from heat and for water to drink. The country is 
dependent almost entirely upon cisterns and water-holes for 
the water supply. These cisterns had been exhausted by 
Johnson's retreating army. His men had attempted to make 
the supply in water -holes unfit for our use by driving used- 
up mules and broken-down' horses into these holes and 
shooting them there. It was not an uncommon sight to see 
a soldier step upon the carcass of a mule and dip up water to 
make his coifee with. For a supply of drinking w^ater the 
system of "company water mule" was established. One 
man from each company was selected, whose duty it was to 
obtain a mule as best he could. He then took one-half of 
the canteens of the company and rode far enough out on the 
flanks of the army to find a cistern that had not been ex- 
hausted. From this he filled the canteens and returned to 
the company. He then took the other canteens and repeated 
the operation. In this w^ay keeping his company supplied 
with drinking water during the day. July 9, there was con- 
stant skirmishing with the enemy. The troops moved slowly 
forward and finally bivouacked, after midnight, very near to 
the entrenchments around Jackson. Early next morning the 



JACKSON, MISS. 129 

line was closed around the city. The 9th corps on the left, 
the 15th corps in the center, and the 13 th corps on the 
right, the line extending from Pearl River above the city to 
the river below the city. The 12th went into position with 
its right resting on the main Jackson and Vicksburg road, 
and within range of a big gun mounted in the enemy's 
works. This gun sent an occasional shot screaching over 
us and finally succeeded in landing one in a camp kettle in 
which rations were being cooked for dinner. The squad 
standing around that fire, watching the cook, did not wait 
for an invitation to "get out of this," and all were thankful 
that it was a solid shot and that they escaped with the loss 
of a dinner and camp kettle. This squad was about as much 
surprised by the sudden spoiling of their dinner as was an- 
other one later, when camped near Vicksburg. They picked 
up some old shells which they supposed had burned out, and 
setting them on end, made a fire between them and put a ' 
camp kettle of beans on top. While they waited and watched 
"the pot boil" one of the shells got red and there was an ex- 
plosion that sent that kettle of beans a hundred feet high. 
That squad did not eat beans for dinner. 

July 1 1, the quartermaster, George H. Morisey, was 
sent out early in the morning with a detail of about twenty 
men from the brigade to collect forage. After loading the 
wagons with corn, at a plantation a few miles from camp, the 
detail started to return. As the train was strung out in a 
narrow lane with guards on either side of the wagons, a 
body of cavalry, dressed in blue, was seen coming from the 
direction of Jackson. Supposing this cavalry to be from our 
army no objection was made to its approach. As it reached 
the head of the wagon train it opened to the right and left, 
and continued along upon either side of the train until the 
guard was entirely surrounded. Then the mounted men sud- 
denly turning, presented revolvers at the heads of each 
guard and demanded his surrender. Taken at such disad- 



130 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

vantage and only then discerning that their assailants were 
rebels the guard surrendered. The captors cut the mules 
from the wagons, mounted their prisoners upon the mules 
and hurried them away as rapidly as possible. Of those 
captured the following were from the Twelfth Iowa: 
Quartermaster George H. Morisey, Sergt. Charles Cook, Jr. , 
Company E; Corp. I. B. S. Isted, Company B; Corp. G. E. 
Comstock, Company C; P. W. Coolidge, Company F; Henry 
Briggs and Thomas Smith, Company H,; J. W. Zeigler, 
Company A. N. H. Spears, Company C, was of the party 
and while his captors were busy cutting the mules loose, 
Spears climbed upon the fence as if to rest. When 
ordered down and fired upon, he fell off the fence backwards; 
rolled into the corn out of sight, then made his way through 
the fields to camp where he reported the capture. Next 
morning the regiment was ordered out as guard for a forage 
train and to reconnoiter. The abandoned wagons were found 
and brought in, but nothing was seen of Confederate force. 
July 15, General Tuttle reported sick, and Colonel Woods 
was assigned to the command of the 3d division. He re- 
mained in command of the division until October. During 
that time the brigade was commanded by Colonel Geddes of 
the 8th Iowa. 

After dark, July 15, the 3d division was moved to the 
right, where it relieved Osterhaus' division of the 13th 
corps. On the 16th the regiment was deployed as skir- 
mishers and pushed forward until it became actively engaged; 
Lt. H, C. Morehead, Company D, was wounded. There was 
at that time heavy firing further to the right where a charge 
was made by our forces under General Lauman, which was 
repulsed with severe loss. At daybreak on the 17th we dis- - 
covered that the works in our front were abandoned, and the 
City of Jackson was very soon in our possession. Tuttle's 
division was moved to the left and put into camp near the 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and was assured that it would remain 



BRANDON 131 

several days for rest. Shelter tents were accordingly set 
up a little more in order than usual, and camp established 
with such little arrangements for comfort and enjoyment as 
could be procured in the vicinity. As a regiment, our hopes 
of rest were soon blighted by orders to report to General 
Steele in light marching order with three days' rations in 
haversacks. Steele had been ordered with a selected force 
of about 5,000 men to reconnoiter across Pearl River towards 
Meridian and break up any camps of the enemy disposed to 
linger too near Jackson. Of our brigade, the 8th and 12th 
were selected, and with the 72nd Ohio and 114th Illinois, orga- 
nized temporarily as a brigade, and commanded by Colonel 
Geddes of the 8th Iowa. This command moved out of Jack- 
son about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the 18th; crossed 
Pearl River, and bivouacked for the night three miles out, 
where a large hospital had been established by the Confed- 
erates. Many of their sick and wounded, together with some 
of our men, wounded and captured when General Lauman 
had made his charge, were found in this hospital. Our men, 
who were able to be moved, were sent into Jackson, and the 
enemy's sick and wounded were provided with necessary sup. 
plies and left as we found them. 

Sunday morning, the 19th, the march was continued 
until about noon, when the enemy was developed in consid- 
erable force near Brandon, where he had planted a battery 
commanding the road so perfectly that the first shot fired, 
from a distance of over a mile, passed just over the heads of 
the marching column and killed a mounted orderly in the 
road. 

The troops were immediately deployed to right and left 
into cornfields, where standing corn was above the heads of 
the men, and were ordered forward in battle line. The 
position of the 12th was to the right of the road, in front 
line. The weather was very warm, not a breath stirring in 
the corn, and many men were overcome with heat. The line 



132 TWELF TH REGIMENT 10 IVA INFANTR V. 

advanced under artillery fire until we were about to the point 
of musket range, when the enemy abandoned his guns and 
retired through the town. A sudden thunder shower came 
up just at that time and gave our army a thorough drench- 
ing, but had one good effect in reviving some of the men who 
had been exhausted by the heat. Our force advanced and 
bivouacked in the center of the town of Brandon, occupying 
the four sides of Seminary square. As we were the first 
Union soldiers to visit the town our coming created consid- 
erable excitement and no little curiosity among the ladies of 
the place. Some of them, after viewing the soldiers through 
closed blinds, came out on the porch and became interested 
in a section of artillery planted in the street. One of them 
was heard to remark : "I wish they would fire it, I'd like to 
hear it." The appearance of a squad of the enemy's cavalry 
in a distant field gave the commander of the battery a pre- 
text for satisfying that desire, and he quietly ordered the 
gunner to send a shell over there. The shock of the dis- 
charge shattered the window glass and sent the curious ones 
screaming into the house, their curiosity fully satisfied. 

The next day the command returned to Jackson, destroy- 
ing the railroad all the way. We remained in Jackson until 
July 23d, when the place was evacuated and Sherman's Army 
returned by easy marches to its former position on the west 
side of Black River. The 12th moved into its pleasant camp 
near Bear Creek, and entered upon, and enjoyed a rest which 
its constant and arduous duties during the hot summer had 
so justly earned. Furloughs were liberally granted, and 
many who had felt the severe strain of the campaign that 
had taxed their health severely, went home for thirty days, 
and returned at the end of that time recuperated and ready 
for further service. 

A letter written by one of Sherman's boys to his mother, 
August 9, 1863, gives a good idea of life in camp as it was 
then enjoyed : 



CAMP A T BE A R CREEK 1 33 

"We are pleasantly located at Camp Sherman, on the main road 
from Vlcksburg to Bridgeport, on Black River, about twenty miles from 
Vicksburg and four miles from Black River. Would you like to visit the 
camp? Let me direct you. Riding out from Vicksburg, you will observe 
three clusters of tents, arranged in regular order, with parallel streets 
of equal length and width. The "village of tents " on the left of the 
road is the camp of the 12th Iowa; the one on the right, the camp of the 
8th Iowa, and the one a little farther on is the camp of the 35th Iowa — 
the three regiments forming the iJd brigade of 3d division of 15th army 
corps of Army of the Tennessee. Turning to the left, where you see 
tents marked " Co. — ," you may pass down the bi'oad, shady street to its 
end, where a single tent stands under a large tree. Walk in, for here 
you will have a hearty welcome from "your boy." The tent is raised 
about two feet from the ground; open at both ends for free circulation of 
air. In the center is a writing desk, with books and papers; on either 
side are bunks made of woven cane-brake, set up on forked stakes. 
These are, indeed, the luxuries of camp which are greatly enjoyed after 
four months of almost constant sleeping on the ground; and that, too, 
without removing the clothing and much of the time without unfasten- 
ing belts. It is a fact that from May 2, when we left Duckport, to July 
27, when we returned to this camp, we did not lie down at night without 
a prospect of being called into line by the " long roll " before morning. 
Very often has the command, "Fall in quickly! " roused the sleeping 
ones, and quick as thought almost the sleeping host was converted into a 
frowning battle line. But you were viewing our home. Just back of 
the tents, under a " fly," the dinner table is always " set " very perma- 
nently on stakes driven into the ground; poles on the stakes and barrel 
staves nailed to the poles completed the outfit. Our "cullud boy" is pre- 
paring dinner, and we see codfish and potatoes, hot biscuit, hard bread, 
butter (very strong; one pound has been enough for four of us two weeks), 
peach sauce, pickles, regulation coffee, concentrated milk, fresh honey, 
etc. You will observe that the camp is perfectly clean; trhe streefs are 
swept every morning, the dirt put into wagons and hauled away. We 
have had Sunday morning inspection, at which the men all turned out in 
full uniform, with guns polished, shoes blackened, and everything in 
order. The men have recovered from the severe strain of the summer 
campaign, and are looking and feeling splendid and enjoying this splen- 
did camp as well as a soldier could wish." 

While at Camp Sherman Lieutenant Colonel Edgington, 
who had been in command of the regiment most of the time 
since April, resigned August 6, and left for his home. Major 
J. H. Stibbs assumed command of the regiment and was, 



134 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

soon after, commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain E. 
M. Van Duzee of Company I, was promoted Major of the 
regiment. The months of August and September were 
passed very pleasantly in camp with little of duty except the 
usual routine of picket and occasional scouting party to 
keep down a few guerillas that were prowling around and 
required watching. During this time the men who were 
prisoners from Shiloh obtained commutation of rations for 
the time they were prisoners of war. The settlement of 
these accounts was in the hands of Lieutenant Reed, who 
made numerous trips to division and corps headquarters and 
to the chief commissary in Vicksburg before money was 
finally paid. 

In this camp we inaugurated the plan of Regimental 
Bakery. Ovens were built, a baker detailed; flour substi- 
tuted for hard bread and the regiment well supplied with 
good light bread in place of mouldy hard tack or leathery 
slap jacks. This plan inaugurated at Camp Sherman was m 
kept up during service, and brick ovens were built imme- 
diately at every camp occupied by the regiment thereafter. 

September 16 the regimental camp was moved to Harris 
plantation, but when it was found that this scattering of the 
forces left all too much exposed, the regiment was, on the 
18th, returned to Bear Creek. About September 27, the 
other divisions of the loth corps were ordered to Chatta- 
nooga, leaving the 3d division alone in charge of the line 
along Black River. This separatien virtually closed our 
service with the loth corps. A few weeks later we were 
ordered to Chattanooga and were on the way there, when 
General Sherman, in his haste, picked up a division of the 
16th corps, guarding railroad from Memphis to Florence, 
and took it with him to Chattanooga and left our division to 
take the place of the railroad guards. Later we were 
regularly assigned to the 16th army corps. 

Tuesday, October 13, was election day in Iowa, and all 



BLACK RIVER 135 

Iowa soldiers were allowed to participate. The 12th Iowa 
cast 236 votes for Governor, of which Stone received 213 
votes, Tattle 23. In the 8th Iowa Stone received 252, Tuttle 
11, in the 35th Iowa Stone 211, Tuttle 124. 

On Thursday morning, October 15, our summer camp 
was broken up and our division, under command of General 
Mower, and one division of the 17th corps, commanded by 
General Logan, and one brigade of cavalry, about 12,000 
men in all, were ordered out to investigate a rebel force said 
to be massing near Canton. We marched to Brownsville, 
twenty-three miles, the first day without opposition. The 
-next day the march was continued towards Canton. The 
advance encountered cavalry and continued to akirmish with 
it all day, making a march of only six miles. Saturday the 
rebels were encountered in force with infantry and artillery, 
occupying a commanding position. The entire day was 
occupied in dislodging them, and we camped at night, during 
a hard rain storm, upon the ground the rebels had occupied. 

Sunday we turned south to Clinton, thence eastward, 
and at night camped upon the celebrated battlefield of 
Baker's Creek or Champion Hills. As soon as our force 
turned back the rebels followed, and continually an- 
noyed the rear guard and flankers, indeed during the march 
Monday from Baker's Creek to Black River they stirred us 
up right lively, and the 12th put in a very hard day as train 
guard, helping the wagons over bad places in the road, 
then marching double quick while the train was closing up. 

We arrived at Black River bridge on the 19th, and on 
the 20th went into camp at Clear Creek, nine miles from 
Vicksburg. The next day our tents were brought out, and 
we established "Camp Hebron,"' where we made things com- 
fortable, many building fireplaces in their tents, desiring to 
be comfortable while they stayed, and some expecting that 
possibly we might find this our winter camp. At least thQ 
Vicksburg campaign was at an end. 



136 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y. 

The following are all of the official reports of said cam- 
paign, which are deemed to be of particular interest. 
General Halleck, referring to Vicksburg, says: 

When we consider the character of the country in which this army 
operated, the formidable obstacles to be overcome, the number of the 
enemy's forces, and the strength of his works, we cannot fail to admire 
the courage and endurance of the troops and the skill and daring of their 
commander. No more brilliant exploit can be found in military history. 

General Grant's official report of the Vicksburg cam- 
paign says the results of the campaign are: 

* * * The defeat of the enemy in five battles outside of Vicks- 
burg; the occupation of Jackson, the capital of the state of Mississippi; 
and the capture of Vicksburg and its garrison and munitions of war; a 
loss to the enemy of 37,000 prisoners, among them fifteen general officers; 
at least 10,000 killod and wounded — among the killed Generals Tracy, 
Tilghman and Green, and hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of strag- 
glers who can never be collected and reorganized. Arms and munitions 
of war for an army of 60,000 men have fallen into our hands, besides a 
large amount of other public property, consisting of railroads, locomo- 
tives cars, steamboats, cotton, etc., and much was destroyed to prevent 
our capturing it. 

Gen. C. L. Mathias, commanding brigade at Jackson, 
May 14th, says: 

* * * I take pleasure in commending Lieutenant Colonel Edg- 
ington of the 12th Iowa, Major Palmer of the 8th Iowa, and Major 
O'Conner of the 3oth Iowa, for the prompt and energetic manner with 
which they placed their skirmishers into the rifle pits before Jackson, 
and were the first officers from our corps who entered that city. 

The cheerfulness with which the officers and men of that noble bri- 
gade endured fatigue and marched under so many privations, and the 
eagerness with which they faced the enemy, cannot but command the 
highest praise from us. 

Report of Col. J. J. Woods, 12th Iowa, commanding 3d 
brigade : 

Camp Bear Creek, Miss., July 20, 1863. 

Sir: I have the honor herewith to submit the following report of 
operations and casualties in 3d brigade in campaign at Jackson, Miss.: 

We left our camp in vicinity of Trible's and Young's July 4; crossed 
the Big Black at Messenger's July 6. We continued to advance until 



REPORTS 137 

July 10, when we halted near Jackton, in rear of our batteries. On the 
11th Lieutenant Dugan, Acting Assistant Quartermaster of the brigade, 
while out with a foraging party, was attacked by the enemy's cavalry, 
and received two wounds, and most of his party were captured. We 
remained in the position taken on the 10th, without further casualties, 
although many of the enemy's shells fell among us, until the Ifjth, when 
we moved to the right and front, the division relieving General Oster- 
haus On the following day, in pursuance of orders, we advanced our 
skirmishers and met a warm reception from the enemy, and had several 
wounded — one mortallv. 

The following night we labored all night placing the 2d Iowa bat- 
teiy in position and improving the infantry defense. On the morning of 
the 17th we found the enemy had evacuated, and that afternoon moved 
north of the Clinton road, On the ISth, the Eighth and Twelfth, 
under Colonel Geddes of the Eighth, in conjunction with other forces, 
started on an expedition to Brandon. On the 19th they had a short en- 
gagement with the enemy, in which Sergeant Duncan of the Eighth was 
killed and a few men wounded. They destroyed several miles of railroad 
track and the railroad buildings at Branden, and returned on the 20th. 
On the 23d the brigade took up the line of march and arrived at presenf 
camp July 26. * * * 

Lieutenant Colonel Edginton, commanding the 12th Iowa, was 
prompt and efficient in the performance of his duties, showing he was 
worthy to command. * * * Lieutenant Reed was always on hand 
when required, and Lieutenant Duncan, Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen- 
eral, and Lieutenant Morse. Acting Aid de Camp, were always prompt in 
the discharge of the duties devolving upon them. Without further par- 
ticularizing, the officers and men performed their duties in a commend- 
able manner. Surgeon Huflf, chief surgeon of the brigade, was always 
attentive to the sick and wounded, as were all the other surgeons con- 
nected with the brigade. 

Yours very respectfully, 

J. J. Woods, 
Commanding 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps. 

Report of Colonel Geddes : 

Jackson, Miss., July 21, 1863. 

Captain: I have the honor to report the part taken by the forces 
under my command in the expedition to Brandon, Miss., which left 
Jackson July 18, 1863, consisting of the 8th and 12th Iowa, 72d Ohio, 114th 
Illinois, with Captain Waterhouse's battery. 

Crossing Pearl river on the night of July 18 we bivouacked on the 
road to Brandon. On the morning of the 19th I resumed the march. 



1 38 TWELF TH RE GIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y 

forcing- the enemy's pickets to retire as we advanced. On arriv- 
ing within three miles of Brandon, and as the head of the col- 
umn was debouching from a wood, the enemy opened fire from a battery 
of three guns planted immediately in the road and distant about one 
mile, at the same time making cavalry demonstrations on my flank. 

Forming the 12th Iowa under Lt. Col. Edgington on the right, the 
8th Iowa under Major Stubbs on the left, the others in support, I or- 
ordered the brigade moved forward for half a mile under severe and con- 
tinuous fire. Previous to the advance I ordered Capt. Waterhouse to 
take position in the road, but the distance was so great that their fire 
could barely reach the point where the enemy's battery was placed, 
while their rifled guns threw shot and shell into my position with great 
accuracy. The deep dykes running across the fields made the advance 
of artillery with the line impossible, consequently they continued their 
fire from first position, which had the eifect of dividing their fire as the 
infantry advanced. 

The advance was made through an open field in admirable order, 
not a man wavered, each regiment marching in line of battle with as 
much precision as if on review, and the coolness and eflBciency dis- 
played by regimental commanders on the occasion renders them much 
credit. 

After engaging the enemy two hours they were driven from their 
positions, retiring through Brandon, with a loss of 31 killed and wounded 
and 40 prisoners. 

On the morning of the 20tb, after destroying two miles of railroad, 
the brigade returned to this place. 

I am, sir, etc., 

J. L. Geddks, 
Colonel 8th Iowa, Commanding Brigade. 

Report of Lt. Col. Edgington : 

Headquarters 12th Iowa Infantry, July 27, 1863. 

. . . July 11: Sen "^ out foraging party. Had three teams and nine 
men captured about five miles from camp, one man escaped, two of the 
wagons with contents burned, one wagon recaptured. 

July 12: Twelfth Iowa ordered out as guard for foraging train con- 
sisting of 50 wagons, returned in the evening. 

July 18: Marched at 6 P. M. under orders for Brandon. 

July 19: Continued the march, 12th Iowa in advance, Company B 
as skirmishers. About five miles from Brandon, artillery fired upon us 
from the front. The regiment formed in line of battle on right of road 
and advanced slowly over very difficult ground, the field being intersected 
with ditches 8 or 10 feet deep, with briars and bushes on either side, 



REPORTS 139 

Coming to open field the other regiments halted and the 12th advanced, 
to a wood where the rebel battery had been planted, and passed through 
a dense thicket going through a rebel camp and capturing an ambulance 
and some prisoners. After going through the woods, entered and took 
possession of Brandon. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

S. R. Edgington, Lt. Col. Commanding 12th Iowa. 



CHAPTER X. 



Chewalla, Tenn. — Re-enlistment— Veteran Fur- 
lough. November, 18G3, to May, 1864. 



Friday evening, November 6, 1863, an order was received 
for our division to break camp at Hebron and join the 15th 
corps on the road to Chattanooga. Early next morning the 
regiment marched into Viclcsburg and embarked on Steamer 
Thomas E. Tutt for "Up the river." On this trip, lor the 
first time in all our travels, there was but the one regiment 
on the boat and there was no crowding. We appreciated the 
luxury of having room to spread our blankets and thoroughly 
enjoyed the trip to Memphis, where we arrived at 11 A. M. 
Thursday the 12th and disembarked with orders to take cars 
for Chattanooga. While waiting the transportation we went 
into camp in the suburbs of the city where we supposed that 
we were entirely removed from "War's Alarms," but during 
the night an affair just outside the lines, between a foraging 
party and a guerrilla band caused an alarm ; the drums beat 
the long roll and we were out in line again at 3 o'clock in the 
morning and remained until daylight before the true cause of 
the alarm was ascertained. 

We waited for railroad transportation until the 18th, 
when an order was issued which recited the inability of the 
railroad to get cars, and directed the division to march to 
La Grange, 50 miles. With such camp equipage and bag- 
gage as could be carried upon two wagons the regiment left 
Memphis on the 19th, and on the third day, Saturday, 
bivouacked on College Hill, La Grange, Tenn. 

A division of the 16 th corps had been stationed along the 



CHE WALLA Ul 

railroad from Memphis to Corinth. The delay, in obtaining 
transportation for our division, compelled General Sherman, 
who was making heroic efforts to relieve the army besieged 
at Chattanooga, to take the division, from guard duty along 
the railroad with him, and leave our division to take its place 
as railroad guards. Under these orders division headquar- 
ters was established at La Grange ; brigade headquarters at 
Pocahontos, and the 12th Iowa was assigned to garrison the 
post at Chewalla, a few miles west of Corinth. On Monday, 
the 23rd, the regiment, with its baggage and horses in box 
cars and the men on top, proceeded to its new station, which 
was found to be a mere sidetrack without depot or other 
buildings, and having no importance except that there were 
several railroad bridges in the vicinity. The 3rd Michigan 
cavalry had built a strong stockade and rough log barracks 
on high ground near the station. We moved in and occupied 
these barracks at once and Lieut. Col. Stibbs assumed 
command of "Post at Chewalla." The duty assigned the 
regiment was the guarding of the several crossings of the 
Tuscumbia river, the most important being the railroad bridge 
4^ miles west of the station. At this bridge, and some other 
important stations, the guard was usually composed of an 
entire company, sent out fully equipped, and with rations to 
serve three or four days. At the end of that time it was 
relieved by another company for a like tour of service. 
These guards were frequently attacked by guerrillas and 
bridge burners, and they had several interesting company 
engagements. On the night of November 30th Company P, 
was attacked but repelled the enemy, and captured a horse 
and saddle and three guns. The attacking party succeeded 
in burning a small culvert which delayed the trains a few 
hours. December 29th Companies G, and I, were sent out on 
scout beyond our pickets. They attacked a detachment of 
Confederates and killed one, wounded five and captured four- 
teen men with horses and equipments. The affairs is told by 



142 TIVEL FTH REGIMENT 10 WA IN FA NTRY 

Captain Zediker as "Skirmish at Goose Creek, Miss.," as 
follows : 

On the 28th of December, 1863, our Tennessee scouts came in and 
reported that a rebel lieutenant on furlough was in the vicinity of Che- 
walla, Tenn. Accordingly at 4 o'clock P. M., Captain Sumbardo, in 
command of Companies I and G, marched through the stockade with a 
number of scouts to search out the lieutenant. About twenty of our 
number were mounted. We crossed the Tuscumbia river, and marched 
southward, crossing the Tennessee line into Mississippi. The night was 
dark, and the roads muddy, but we continued marching, searching 
houses, etc., occasionally capturing a suspicious character, until near 
morning, when we heard of a dance in the vicinity, and with increased 
speed pressed on eager to catch the prey. At 5 o'clock A. M., December 
29th, we found ourselves within hearing of the music, and cautiously 
surrounding the premises we closed in upon the buildings, but the rebels, 
discovering our approach, broke out through doors and windows, some 
with and some without arms, and for several moments a sharp and lively 
fire was kept vip without, while the deafening screams of females were 
heard within. 

Finally they surrendered, and the excitement being partially quelled 
we learned the following results of our expedition: One rebel killed, 
five wounded, and fourteen captured. Avith several valuable cavalry 
horses, arms, etc. Among the captured were a captain and a lieutenant. 
We arrived at camp at 9 o'clock A. M., 29th, with nineteen prisoners in 
all, and were highly complimented upon our success. Our loss was none, 
much to the chagrin of the furloughed rebels. 

I remain general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

James F. Zediker, 
Captain Company I, 12th Iowa V. V. Infantry. 

A large force of the enemy attacked the brigade line at 
Pocahontas, December 3rd and 4th, and succeeded in making 
some serious breaks in the railroad. The attacking party 
was repulsed and driven off after several spirited engage- 
ments lasting two days. Like attacks made at Moscow and 
other points along the line, cut off our supplies for a few days 
and interrupted our communications. 

In June, 1863, a General Order was issued by the War 
Department, offering inducements of furlough, bounty, etc., 
to the two year men whose term of service was about to 



RE-ENLISTMENT 143 

expire, if they would re-enlist for three years. Afterwards 
the same offers were made to all troops that had served over 
two years. It was further provided that if two thirds of a 
regiment re-enlisted it might retain its organization, and be 
mustered as a regiment of Veteran Volunteers. Several 
meetings were held by the members of the 12th to consider 
this matter, and on Christmas day the required two-thirds of 
the regiment agreed to re- enlist for three years or during the 
war. On the 5th day of January, 1864, they were duly mus- 
tered into the United States service as 12th Iowa Veteran 
Volunteer Infantry. On the Roster of the Regiment pub- 
lished herewith, the names of those re-enlisting are marked 
with a star. 

About the 25th of January orders were received to 
abandon all posts on M. & C. R. R. At 1 o'clock on morning 
of Tuesday the 26th the regiment, after setting lire to bar- 
racks, loaded the camp equipage upon freight train, and 
with men on top, as usual, started for Memphis, where it 
arrived about dark and passed the night upon the railroad 
platform or on freight cars about the yards. The next morn- 
ing we went on board Steamer Delaware under orders to join 
General Sherman at Vicksburg for an expedition to the 
interior. The lack of boats for the whole brigade delayed 
us at the wharf several days, and gave the paymaster an 
opportunity to distribute two months' pay to each member of 
the regiment. An event, in the army as elsewhere, of suf- 
ficient importance to be noted. 

On Monday, February 1st, we started down river, land- 
ing in Vicksburg at 10 o'clock on Wednesday the 3rd after a 
pleasant, quick trip. On the 4th we marched to Black River 
bridge, where we went into camp as reserve and guard to the 
communication, while Sherman made his march to Meridian 
and return. One regiment of our brigade — 33rd Mo. — which 
had been recently assigned to the brigade, went as far as 
Jackson, and returned with Pontoon bridge — prisoners — 



144 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

wounded, etc. We remained in camp just one month, in 
which time company, regimental and brigade drills were 
ordered and were kept up, twice a day, with great diligence, 
during our stay. This drill served to break in some new 
recruits and rub off the rust of one year constant campaign- 
ing with little drill. March 4th Sherman's army returned 
from Meridian and we marched to Vicksburg and went into 
camp on Walnut Hills, near the position we occupied during 
the siege. On the 6th the following order — the original in 
the possession of the writer — was received with much 
rejoicing in tlie camps of the veterans : 

Special Field Order. ) Headquarters 16th Army Corps, 

No. 14. s Vicksburg, Miss., March (i, 18(i4. 

V. Three-fourths of the 8th Iowa Vols., 12th 
Iowa Vols., and 11th Mo. Vols, having- re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteei's, 
they are hereby ordered to proceed to Memphis, Tenn., where the arms, 
ordnance stores and other pi^operty will be turned over, when the regi- 
ments will proceed, with their officers, to their respective states. The 
8th and 12th Iowa to Davenport, Iowa. * * * there reporting through 
the Governor of the State, to the Supt. of recruiting service, for 30 days, 
furlough. The men who have not re-enlisted as Veterans will be 
assigned, temporarily to other regiments. By order of Maj. Gen. S. A. 
Hvirlbut. 

T. H. Harris, A. A. G. 

Under this order Colonel Woods assumed command of his 
regiment, transferred the non- veterans to the 35th Iowa, and 
with the veterans took passage March 7th on Steamer Min- 
nehaha for Memphis, where the regiment arrived March 12th. 
Here the following order, the original in Colonel Woods own 
writing, on file with writer, was isssued : 

Speciat. Order, \ Headquarters 12th Iowa Inft. V. V. 

No. 1. \ Memphis, Tenn., Mch. 12th, 18(54. 

In order to comply with special order No 57 — Head- 
quarters of 10th A. C. of this date, Adjt. N. E. Duncan, 12th Iowa Infan- 
try, is hereby detailed with men to remain in Memp lis, Tenn., until 

the ordnance and other stores, belonging to the Regiment, are turned 
over. After which they will immediately proceed to Iowa in pursuance 
of Special Field Order No. 14. Hd. Qrs. 16th A. C, dated March Gth, 
1864. J. J. Woods, Col. Comdg. 



VETERAN FURLOUGH 1+5 

Landing the stores referred to at Memphis, the regiment 
remained on the Minnehaha and proceeded up the river. The 
old boat had been in service so long that it was very near a 
vi^reck, and it soon became evident that the owners had deter- 
mined that it should be finished up while it was being used 
by the government. At least the old tub ran aground at every 
possible opportunity. The officers and crew in charge would 
make pretended efforts to shove her off by using spars, and 
the men, who were all anxious to get home, would get ashore, 
attach hausers and pull the boat off the bar. Several times 
they succeeded in getting the thing afloat, but at last she 
stuck fast and resisted all efforts to move her. Some of the 
officers of the regiment boarded a passing steamer, went to 
Cairo and secured another boat, the Island City, which took 
the regiment off the wreck. The old Minnehaha was left 
sticking in the mud. About a year afterwards the owners of 
the boat filed a claim against the 12th Iowa for the price of 
the boat, claiming that she had been injured and disabled by 
the men of the regiment. The claim was pending for some 
time. The regiment did not pay the bill, whether the Gov- 
ernment did or not we do not know. Without further inci- 
dent the regiment proceeded to St. Louis, where a committee 
of citizens came on board and gave the whole regiment an 
invitation to a banquet, specially prepared by the citizens at 
one of the halls in the city for the regiment in honor of its 
re enlistment. The invitation was accepted, with special 
thanks to the people of St. Louis. The passage up the river 
was continued on the Island City to Davenport, Iowa, where 
we arrived March 22nd. From there thirty day furloughs 
were granted to all the veteran members of the regiment. 

We will not attempt to follow the individual members to 
their respective homes, nor record the many pleasant greet- 
ings received as the veteran companies returned to the towns 
from which they were originally enlisted. We know that 
public receptions and banquets were the order of the day, 



146 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

and that the boys were so lionized that many young men 
caught the war fever and enlisted for the war and enrolled 
their names with the 12th Iowa Veterans, and when fur- 
loughs expired each company returned with new recruits 
added to the role, and all were filled with new vigor for the 
further activities of the service. 



CHAPTER XL 



Tupelo — Oxford — Price's Raid Through Arkansas 
AND Missouri — May to December, 1864. 



On the day the furloughs expired, April 25th, the men 
reported for duty, and on the 28th the regiment left Daven- 
port, by rail, for Cairo, where it arrived on the 29th, and 
next day embarked on Steamer Luminary for Memphis, 
where it reported for duty May 2nd and was at once armed 
and equipped for field service and ordered into camp just 
outside the city limits. 

The original requisition for arms, signed by Colonel 
Woods May 2nd, 1864, is in possession of the writer. It gives 
the number of men to be armed as follows: "Sergeants, 
40; corporals and privates, 395; total, 435." And ask for 
"435 Springfield rifled muskets, cal. 58, model 1861." The 
requisition is approved by Brig. Gen. R. P. Buckland, Com- 
manding Post. And by Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn, Com- 
manding Dist. of West Tennessee. 

On the 16th day of May, Companies A, B, C, D, F and H, 
under command of Lt. Col. Stibbs, were detailed for duty to 
garrison post at the mouth of White river, Ark. The other 
four companies remaining on duty at Memphis under com- 
mand of Major Van Duzee. The detachment, for mouth of 
White river, arrived at its destination May 17 th and went 
into camp on the bank of the Mississippi river. These com- 
panies of 12th Iowa were the only troops at the station, and 
as the camp was almost entirely surrounded by an impene- 
trable swamp it had little to do except to fight mosquitoes. 



1 48 T IV EL FTH RE GIMEN T 10 WA IN FA N TR ) '. 

At the end of two weeks four companies returned to Mem- 
phis, leaving Companies A, and F, to garrison the post. 

June lltb all the forces in Memphis and vicinity were 
turned out to witness the public execution of three men of 
the 2nd N. J. cavalry. These men had been tried by court 
martial and sentenced to be shot. The order of the court 
was carried out, on open ground near Fort Pickering, where 
the army was drawn up, en masse, forming three sides of a 
square. The condemned persons were marched around the 
square and then blindfolded and seated on their coffins in 
center of open side of square. At a signal given, the shoot- 
ing detail fired, killing all the prisoners instantly. The army 
was then marched, in open order, past the corpses as they 
lay across their coffins, and the supposed lesson and warning, 
against future offences, had been fully given. 

During the time the veterans were on furlough the non- 
veterans of the regiment, serving with the 35th Iowa, par- 
ticipated in all the battles of that blundering campaign, 
known as the Red River expedition, in which General Banks 
and his part of the army was saved from destruction by the 
troops sent him by General Sherman, under the command of 
General A. J. Smith. These troops Banks had contempt- 
uously styled " Smith's Guerrillas," because, foresooth, they 
were not so elegantly dressed as his "Band Box Soldiers." 
The appellation, "Smith's Guerrillas,'" seemed to suit the 
rough and ready old grey beard and his equally rough and 
ready men, and he, and they, accepted the name; clung to it 
with pride to the end of the war, and made that nick-name 
one of honor in the army. The record of the Red River 
expedition as condensed from the reports of Col. Hill, com- 
manding the brigade is about as follows: 

The brigade, consisting of 35th Iowa, 33rd, Missouri, 
and detachments of the 8th and 12th Iowa, was with General 
Mower at the capture of FortDe Russy, March 14th; marched 
to Alexandria, La., where it arrived March 17th; left Alex- 



RED RIVER EXPEDITION 149 

andria at 6:30 A. M., March 21st, and marched 22 miles to 
Bayou Rapides, where the enemy was entrenched; crossed 
the Bayou at right of enemy's position; marched 8 miles 
through swamps and dense pine forest, and at 10:30 P. M. 
captured eight picket posts in succession without firing a 
gun or causing an alarm, and at midnight surprised and cap- 
tured the enemy's camp at Henderson Hill, taking 222 pris- 
oners, 4 pieces of artillery with cassions, horses and equip- 
ments complete. The brigade returned to Alexandria with 
prisoners on the 23d. 

April 9th, 1864, the brigade was engaged in the battle of 
Pleasant Hill when it lost very heavily. The 12th Iowa had 
three men wounded: Robert L. Weeden, Co. F; Hans Hanson 
and George Kittleson, Co. G. It participated in the battles 
of Mansura, La., May 16; Yellow Bayou, May 17; Bayou De 
Glaize, May 18, and Old River Lake — or Lake Chicot — Ark. , 
June 6th. In this last engagement Frederick Hickathier, 
Co. K, was wounded. The reports of Adjt. Genls. Office, 
U. S. A., gives: "One man of 12th Iowa Mlled at Lake Chicot, 
but does not give the name. 

Smith's command returned to Memphis June 10th and the 
12th Iowa was assigned to its old place in the 3d brigade, 1st 
division, 16th A. C. The 8th Iowa was assigned to provost 
duty in Memphis and its place in the brigade was taken by 
the 7th Minn. The writer has possession of the original 
order, No. 80, issued by General Mower, June 11th, 1864, 
assigning Col. J. J. Woods to the command of the 3d brigade, 
consisting of the 12th and 35th Iowa, 33d Mo., and 7th 
Minn. These regiments, brought together by this order, 
served in the same brigade continuously until the three non- 
veteran regiments were mustered out of service. 

In the early summer a Confederate force was being col- 
lected at Tupelo, Miss., for the purpose of raiding Sherman's 
communications in middle Tennessee. Sherman learned of 
this design upon the railroad in rear of his army and ordered 



150 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

General Washburn to send out a force from Memphis to 
break up the Confederate camp, or at least to detain it west of 
the Tennessee river. Washburn organized a force consisting 
of Grierson's cavalry, three brigades of white infantry com- 
manded by Col. McMillan, two regiments of colored infantry 
and three batteries of artillery — about 8,000 men — and placed 
it under the command of Brig. Gen. Sturgis, with orders to 
break up the Confederate force or drive it away from the 
M. & O. railroad. Sturgis left Memphis about June 1st, and 
on the 10th, while marching his command along a narrow 
road, flanked by swamps, he was attacked near Guntown, 
Miss., by Forrest's cavalry and defeated in detail. The artil- 
lery and wagon train was stuck in the swamp and captured; 
the troops were demoralized and stampeded towards Mem- 
phis. To relieve these troops, and carry out Sherman's 
instructions, General A. J. Smith was ordered out with the 
1st and 3d divisions of the 16th corps, organized as follows: 

1st Division — Brig. Gen. J. A. Mower, Commanding. 

1st Brigade, Col. McMillan, 114th 111., 93d Ind., 10th 

Minn., 72d and 93d Ohio, Cogswell's Bat. 
2d Brigade, Col. Wilkins, 47th 111., 5th and 9th Minn., 

11th Mo., 8th Wis., 2d Iowa Bat. 
3d Brigade, Col. J. J. Woods, 12th and 35th Iowa, 7th 

Minn., 33d Mo. 
4th Brigade (Detached portions of 17th Corps), 41st 111., 
14th and 33d Wis., 6th Ind. Bat., 1st Mo. Bat. 
3d Division — Colonel Moore, Commanding, 

1st Brigade, Col. Murray, 58th, 119th and r22d 111., 89th 

Ind., 21st Mo., 9th Ind Bat. 
2d Brigade, Col Gilbert, 14th, 27th and 32d Iowa, 24th Mo., 

3d Ind. Bat 
3d Brigade, Col. Wolf, 49th and 117th 111., 52d Ind., 178th 
N. Y., 2d III. Bat., 14th Ind. Bat. 
This force left Memphis June 18th on box cars, and 
arrived at Colliersville in the afternoon, where the track was 
found to be torn up, and the command was set to work build- 
ing railroad and repairing bridges. Eight companies of the 
12th Iowa accompanied this expedition. Two companies — 



TUPELO 151 

A and F — were on duty at White river. The road was com- 
pleted to La Grange on the 24th, and the command rested 
while supplies, etc., were brought forward and while the 
cavalry scouted to the south and afforded protection for 
Sturgis' men who were making their way back to Memphis. 
The negro regiments "had taken to the woods" and were 
hiding out rather than risk being captured. Many of 
them came into La Grange in a deplorable condition and told 
hard stories of the treatment received by some of their num- 
bers who were captured by Forrest's men. We celebrated 
the 4th by firing a national salute of 100 guns at 12 M., and 
next morning left the railroad and marched southeasterly 
via of Ripley and New Albany to Pontotoc, where we arrived 
on the 11th of July. This march of seven days under the 
hottest sun and in the deepest dust that we found in all our 
marching, was very trying to the men, and many suffered 
from sunstroke. Some new regiments found it impossible 
to keep up their organizations and their men were allowed 
to fall out of ranks and follow along as they could in the 
cooler part of the day. The 12th made a record of greatest 
endurance, by bringing more men to camp each night and in 
better order than any other regiment in the command. On 
the day we arrived at Pontotoc the enemy obstructed our 
advance and kept us skirmishing and marching in battle line 
most of the day. On the 12th most of the command rested 
all day in Pontotoc, the cavalry demonstrating towards 
Okolona. Early on the 13th the entire force was put in 
motion on the road, due south towards Okolona. When the 
cavalry was well out on the road, and the enemy concentrated 
in that direction, the infantry was suddenly turned east 
towards Tupelo, and the cavalry instructed to return and 
follow the infantry as rear guard. When Forrest discovered 
that Smith had turned towards Tupelo he ordered Buford's 
division to move on the right flank of the Union force and 
attack it wherever opportunities offered. The 12th Iow£ii 



152 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y 

was assigned to position as train guard and was marched 
along the right flank of the train with flankers well out on 
that side. Fighting with rear guard commenced early in the 
day, but this did not delay the march until we reached 
Coonewar Creek at about 3 o'clock, when a force from the 
right made an attempt to capture the train. Bell's brigade 
of Buford's division, approached our line, through a dense 
thicket which entirely concealed them from sight, and suc- 
ceeded in capturing the flank guards — E. A. Butolph and 
Harmon Grass of Co. D — but not before the guards had given 
the alarm by firing their guns. At this alarm Lt. Col. Stibbs 
directed his Adjutant to ride out and investigate. The 
adjutant riding through the thick brush ran directly into 
the advancing line of the enemy. He took in the 
situation in time to turn his horse into a bridle path, 
leading diagonally back to the road, and, disregarding 
the orders to halt, spurred his horse down the path and 
out into the road, where he gave information of the com- 
ing attack. Lt. Col. Stibbs moved the regiment forward a 
few paces into a slight ravine, commanded the men to lie 
down, and then waited until the enemy was within a few 
paces, and had raised a yell at sight of the wagons, when 
Stibbs gave the order to fire. The deadly volley, poured so 
unexpectedly into the faces of the attacking forces stopped 
the advance, and a second volley sent them back into the 
brush. So completely was the enemy routed, that one of tne 
regiments left its flag lying on the ground where its bearer 
fell. Our regiment could not follow up its advantage — nor 
even gather up its trophies from the field — for at the moment 
of its complete victory an appeal came for help from a bat- 
tery which was likely to be captured, and the 12th went off 
double quick to its support and reached it just in time to save 
it from the hands of the enemy. The loss of the regiment 
was one killed, twelve wounded and one missing. One of the 
flankers. Grass — captured before the attack, escaped during 



TUPELO 153 

the confusion of the fight and came rushing into our line, 
exposing himself to the fire from both sides. In the battle 
next day, Grass found, and recovered, from the hands of a 
dead Confederate, his gun that was taken from him when he 
was captured. 

Colonel Bell, commanding the Confederate brigade in 
this engagement, says in his official report: 

"The engagement continued but for a few minutes, dur- 
ing which we were under a hot fire. Our loss for the time 
we were engaged was very heavy."' 

The 2nd Tennessee, engaged immediately in front of 
the I2th Iowa, lost 46 killed and wounded, that were left on 
the field. The engagement is sometimes called "Battle of 
Coonewar Creek." After repelling the attack upon the train 
and relieving the battery, the regiment resumed the march 
in column, in center of the wagon train. Soon after starting 
forward, and while passing over a piece of corduroy road, 
with swamp on either side, a single gun of the enemy planted 
on rising ground to the right of the swamp, opened fire, and as 
rapidly as the gun could be loaded and discharged, sent a shot 
directly across the road. The battery was inaccessible because 
of the swamp, and was beyond the range of our Springfield 
muskets. To halt the train would be fatal; to move rapidly, 
impossible. The only thing to do was to move forward 
steadily, prevent a stampede of the train, and trust the head 
of the column to find a way around the swamp and drive the 
battery away. While the regiment was thus moving steadily 
forward, Chaplain Humphrey, who had joined the regiment 
a few days before, came riding to the front and looked 
squarely into the faces of the Colonel and Adjutant. When 
asked what was wanted, he replied: "I wanted to look into 
your faces to see if I could discover how veterans feel in bat- 
tle, and I want to know, Colonel, what my duties are in a 
case like this." He was told that he might report to the 
Surgeon and be ready to assist the wounded, Just then two 



154 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

artillerymen were knocked, wounded, from their caisson. 
The Chaplain asked: "Would it be right for me to assist 
these men? " When told that it would be right, he got down 
from his horse and helped them into an ambulance. This 
was the Chaplain's initiation into the service. Colonel 
Stibbs says: "The Adjutant had noted the time between 
each discharge, and estimated the rate of march, and when 
the shot wounded the artillerymen, remarked: 'Colonel, at 
the pace we are marching, the next shot will take us.' Sure 
enough, the next shot was exactly over our heads, but, for- 
tunately, high enough to miss us." The next shot went 
through the ranks of Company D, killing John Nichols in- 
stantly. The head of the column reached Tupelo about 8 
P. M., and took possession of the railroad depot and a small 
earthwork which had been thrown up by the Confederates. 
The Twelfth bivouacked, in line of battle, about two miles 
west of the town, near Harrisburg Post Office. 

Thursday morning, July 14, at 3 o'clock, we were called 
into line. As soon as it was light skirmishing commenced 
in our front, and the cavalry outposts were driven in. Our 
regimental line was formed in the woods, on the north of the 
Pontotoc road, with open fields in front. The right, Com- 
pany, B, was thrown back at right angles and connected with 
the 33d Missouri, which was to our right facing northwest. 
The 7th Minnesota and 35th Iowa were in reserve. A rail 
fence along our front was thrown down and the rails piled 
to form a slight protection for the men. 

In this position the attack of the enemy was received 
about 7 A. M., and was, from the first, desperate and deter- 
mined. Forrest's forces consisted of four divisions, com- 
manded by Chalmers, Buford, Roddy and Lyons. The point 
of attack selected by Forrest was along the north side of the 
Pontotoc road, directly upon the position occupied by the 
12th Iowa. Buford's division had the advance. He says 
that he placad Mabry's brigade on the left of the Pontotoc 



TUPELO 



155 



road: the Kentucky brigade on the right of said road, and 
Bell's brigade in rear of Mabry's; and that Chalmers' divis- 
ion was in reserve. This arrangement brought Mabry's and 
Bell's brigade directly in front of the 12th Iowa, and the 
full force of the attack by these two brigades, and one bri- 
gade from Chalmers' division, sent to reinforce the others, 
fell upon the Twelfth. Standing behind the rail fence, our 
men could distinctly see the double lines of gray advancing 




BATTLE o^TUPELO 

July 14-. 15, i864. 



upon them across the open fields, and knew that they were 
to receive the full force of the attack, and that upon them 
was to depend the result of the battle. Holding their fire 
until the rebel line had advanced to a point within easy 
range, they opened fire with a coolness and accuracy which 
was only excelled by the rapidity with which they discharged 
?ind reloaded their nauskets. Not a man wavered or fell 



156 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

back; those killed or severely wounded lay where they fell, 
unheeded by comrades. Those less severely wounded, who 
were able to get to the rear unaided, left guns and cartridges 
with comrades; made their way as best they could to the 
hospital ; many of them returning to their place as soon as 
their wounds were dressed. 

The advancing rebels of Mabry's line were checked at 
about sixty yards distance, but instead of falling back, this 
front line sought shelter in ditches and behind a fenoe, and 
continued to pour in their fire, while Bell's brigade was 
brought up and urged forward to charge our line. 

Meeting with the same reception as the first. Bell's men 
were obliged to seek shelter with Mabry's or fly the field. 
By this time the ammunition of our men had been exhausted 
and many muskets were foul and unserviceable. The 7th 
Minnesota was ordered to relieve us while we went to the 
rear and replenished cartridge boxes and cleaned guns. 

After our guns were cleaned we returned to the front 
just in time to repel a charge from one of Chalmers' brigades. 
The repulse of that brigade was followed by an order for our 
brigade to charge. This order was obeyed, the 12th in 
advance. The charge swept the enemy from the field, our 
line following as far as Harrisburg. From that point one 
of our batteries continued to shell the retreating force until 
it was lost in the woods. This ended the fighting in our 
front that day. The regiment fell back to its original 
position where it cared for its wounded and buried its dead. 

This engagement, though scarcely mentioned or noticed 
in the accounts of battles, then being fought, by Sherman 
and elsewhere, was one of the most hotly contested, for the 
time it lasted, of any battle in which the 12th was engaged 
during the war. The total number of the regiment present, 
officers and men, was less than 300. The returns of June 
30th show total present, including musicians and teamsters, 
to be 316. Against this handful of men, three brigades of 
Forrest's veterans had charged; been repulsed and retreated. 



TUPELO 157 

leaving over 600 of their dead and severely wounded on the 
field. The kind of fighting that was done by the 12th is 
well shown by the Confederate reports. 

Col. H. P. Mabry commanding brigade, says: 
"On the 14th my command was placed on the left of Buford's divis- 
ion and formed a part of the first line to attack. The enemy's lines were 
extended across the road from Pontoac to Tupelo, near Harrisburg. In 
his front were large open fields with occasional small skirts of wood. The 
ground was gently undulating affording no protection to our troops. 
As soon as my troops advanced within range, the enemy opened on me 
a/ most terrific fire of small arms. I immediately orderd a charge, but 
the heat was great that many fell exhausted, while the fire of the enemy 
was so heavy and well directed that many were killed and wounded. At 
about 60 yards from the enemy's works, seeing that my line was too 
much weakened to drive the enemy, I halted and directed my men to 
protect themselves by lying down behind a low fence. I held this posi- 
tion until our second line came up to within about 100 yards of my rear, 
and was repulsed; when I gave orders to fall back. My loss was severe. 
All of my regimental, and nearly all my Company commanders of three 
regim,ents were killed or wounded.'''' 

Colonel Bell commanding 4th brigade says: 
"My brigade marched out before the enemy just in rear of Mabry's, 
which, after fighting for some time in front retired, leaving my brigade 
to take its place * * * . The officers and men maintained their 
position under a most galling fire until their ammunition was well nigh 
exhausted. And we were ordered to give way to another brigade, leav- 
ing many of our dead and wounded on the field. The place was truly a 
hot one, the loss of the brigade in officers and men was immense.^'' 

Mabry reports loss, killed, wounded and missing, 371. 
Bell reports his loss 400. Buford's division reports loss of 
996. Loss in Chalmers' division is not given. The loss in 
12th Iowa on the 14th: One officer and six men killed, thirty- 
nine wounded. The regimental dead were buried near 
where they fell, in a long deep grave, and the name of each 
deeply cut in a tree standing near the head of the grave. 

"Lying so silently, through night and through day; 
Moulding, and mingling their dust with the clay. 
They left home and kindred, at the call of the chief. 
And like reapers went into the harvest of death ! 
They shirked not stern duty, while shai'pnell and shell 
Crashed through their blue ranks like missiles of Hell !" 



158 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Lt. Burdick, acting Quartermaster, was killed in a very 
singular manner. He had ridden to the front with a case of 
cartridges to replenish the empty boxes of the men. After 
opening the case and distributing its contents, he stepped 
behind a tree, more than a foot in diameter, and was watching 
the fight from this apparently safe position, and holding his 
horse by the bridle. A solid shot, about three inches in 
diameter and five inches long, from a rebel gun, struck the 
tree, passed entirely through it, through Lt. Burdick and 
through his horse, and struck the ground a few feet beyond. 
No man in the field was, to all appearances, in as safe a 
position as Lt. Burdick, yet that chance shot found him and 
the life of a splendid young officer was quickly extinguished. 
The acting Adjutant, sitting on his horse near by, saw the 
casualty and was quickly at the spot but death had been 
instantaneous, and all that the Adjutant could do was to 
take charge of the Quartermaster's haversack, containing 
vouchers and important papers, and his sword, and leave his 
body to be buried when the battle was over. It may be of 
interest to some of the friends of the regiment to know that 
the solid shot which killed Lt. Burdick was picked up by 
the Adjutant and upon his return to Memphis, it was sent 
with the personal effects of the late Quartersmaster to Mrs. 
Burdick at Decorah, la. After the war Mrs. Burdick went 
to Tupelo with the intention of removing the body of her 
husband, but finding the grave carefully marked she decided 
to "let him rest in the grave where comrades had laid him." 

During the night preparations were made for the com- 
mand to return to Memphis — several of the men of our regi 
ment were so severely wounded that they could not be moved 
and arrangements were made to leave them in the hospital, 
with a detail of men to remain as nurses. 

Under this order H. R.. Andrews of Company B, and A:. 

H. C. Wintersteen of Company I, were detailed and ordered to 

remain in charge of the wounded. The original order mak- 



TUPELO 159 

ing the detail, written with a pencil by moonlight upon a 
torn scrap of paper, is now in Andrews' possession, and is 
kept as a relic of a very unpleasant duty, performed for the 
wounded and dying comrades. When we remember that such 
a detail meant that these men should remain on the field 
when their regiment marched away ; that they would be taken 
prisoners by Forrest's men who had, by atrosities committed 
at Fort Pillow, and more recently at Guntown, made a repu- 
tation; that prisoners in their hands were liable to be very 
badly treated, if not murdered, we will understand better 
the courage and devotion to duty which constrained these 
men to accept such a detail without a murmur and quietly 
prepare to accept the fate that awaited them. It is a matter 
of record that the only protest made by them, when they 
reported for duty was: "Adjutant, we dislike to be detailed 
for such duty when we would have gladly volunteered, and 
we only ask you to take back the order and let the record 
show that we volunteered." When it was explained to them 
that the written order might be useful for their protection 
they quietly accepted the detail, remained with and cared 
for their wounded comrades; no doubt saving the lives of 
some of them. They reported afterwards that the written 
order caused them to be treated as nurses, and not as pris- 
oners of war, and that when their services were no longer 
needed they were released and came into our lines at Vicks- 
barg, where they received the approval of their comrades 
and were entitled to the medal of honor for services that 
were as valiant as the charging of batteries. The wounded 
left on the field at at Tupelo were: Sergeant Emery Clark, 
Co. C; Soren A. Sorenson, Co. G, died July 7; Sergeant V. 
V. Price, Co. H, died July 28; Phillip Henry, Co. H, arm 
amputated; Sergeant J. W. Cotes, Co. I; Corporal J. F. 
Wilson, Co. I, died July 22; Corporals William Kohler and 
John Devine, Co. I; and James Dilion, Co. K, died July 28th. 
On the morning of July 15th, General Smith, having 
accomplished his mission of breaking up the enemy's 



160 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

camp at Tupelo; destroying the railroad communication 
which the rebels were seeking to re establish between 
Mobile and Chattanooga, commenced the return march to 
Memphis. Mower's division was deployed to cover the 
retreat, and while the other troops, the ambulance, and 
ammunition train were getting off constant skirmishing was 
going on between the rebels and skirmishers of our division. 
Forrest was evidently aware that a part of the force had 
moved away and was seeking an opportunity to strike a 
detached part of the Union forces. When the other troops 
were across Old Town Creek Mower commenced the with- 
drawal of his division, by first sending away all non-com- 
batants and all men not able to make long, rapid march. 
Then assigning the 3rd brigade as rear guard, he started the 
balance of his division towards Old Town Creek. The 
rebels immediately pressed their forces up to our lines. Then 
instead of falling back. Colonel Woods ordered a charge by 
his whole brigade. This charge put the rebel forces to rout. 
They were again followed to Harrisburg when Woods about 
faced his brigade and marched it, as rapidly as possible, ten 
miles to Old Town Creek. The rebels recovering from their 
rout commenced pursuit, and, attempting to attacd our rear 
as we crossed the creek, were met by the 1st and 2nd bri- 
gades of our division, and the 2nd brigade of the 3rd division, 
and after a short, sharp engagement were thoroughly 
worsted and put to flight. Their defeat was so complete 
that no further attempt was made to harrass us during our 
return march to Memphis. General Forrest was wounded 
while directing this fight at Old Town Creek. The loss in 
the 12th in this day's fighting was one killed and three 
wounded. 

The regiment bore a conspicuous part in all the engage- 
ments of the three days' fighting at Tupelo. Each day it 
had occupied the place in the line where the principal attack 
was made, and so gallantly withstood every charge that it 



TUPELO 161 

received the especial commendation of General Smith and 
the whole army. Ingersoll in his "Iowa and the Rebellion," 
speaking of the 12th Iowa at Tupelo says: 

"On the 13th of July this regiment, being- at the time guard to the 
train, was attacked by a brigade of rebels, eager for victory and plunder, 
and thinking they could be easily gained from the inferior foi'ce opposed 
to them. But never were men more mistaken. The regiment stood like 
a wall from which the charge of the troopers rebounded, as though 
springing from a consuming conflagration. No small force repelled a large 
force more bravely, comj^letely and successfully during the war. In the 
subsequent fighting of this brilliant campaign, wherein the rebels were 
thoroughly defeated and I'outed, the regiment bore a prominent part, 
fighting all the time with marked gallantry and efficiency, loosing 
heavily in killed and wounded, and at the close of the extended conflict 
receiving the special commendation of the General commanding the army. 

It is unquestionably true, according to all trustworthy accounts, 
that the 12th infantry was here especially distinguished among all the 
troops which helped to gain the victory. The univei'sal expression is 
that it occupied the post of danger and honor, bearing the brunt of the 
battleand most gloriously and triumphantly sustaining the Union arms on 
this bloody field. It is not more certain that the 2nd Iowa was first at 
Donelson, the 4th at Chickesaw Bayon; the 5th at luka, than that the 
12th won the brightest laurels at Tupelo, wherefore I regret exceedingly 
the want of sufficient material from which to complete a full account of 
the victory.'' 

REPORTS OF BATTLES ARE AS FOLLOWS : 

Headquarters, 12th Iowa Vet. Vot.. Infantry, / 
La Grange, Tenn., Julv 21, 1864. f 
Lieut. H. Hoover, A A. A. Gen. jrf Brigade, ist Division, i6th Army 
Corps: 
Lieutenant: I have the honor to make the following report of the 
l>art taken by the Twelfth Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the 
actions near Tupelo, Miss., on the 13th, 14th, and 15th inst. 

On the 13th inst., at about 2 o'clock, P. M., while marching as guard 
for the supply ti'ain and support of Muhler's, Sixth, Indiana battery, we 
were heavily attacked on our right flank, at a point on the road where 
the timber and underbrush were so dense, as to make it almost impos- 
sible to maneuver the men. Having leai'ned by my flankers the point 
at which the enemy were striking, I moved my command so as to meet 
their front fairly, and then as nearly as possible concealed my men in the 



162 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

brush, and awaited the attack. We allowed the enemy to advance with- 
out firing a shot until within twenty paces, when we suddenly poured a 
sweeping volley full in their ranks. This threw them into confusion, 
and after a sharp fight of twenty minutes we drove them from^our fi'ont 
with heavy loss. Their colors were left on the ground, but we failed to 
secure them as we were compelled to mai'ch to su])port the battery. 
They were subsequently j^icked up by the Fourteenth Wisconsin. Our 
loss during this action was one man killed, one officer and eleven men 
wounded, and one man missing. 

On the morning of the 14th inst., at Tupelo, in accordance with 
instructions from your headquarters, I posted my command on the right 
of the Pontotoc road, forming the extreme left of the 1st division, and 
was supported by the Seventh Minnesota. In fi'ont of, and running 
parallel with our line was a heavy rail fence, which we threw down in 
such a manner as to form a good protection against small arms. My 
regiment was the first to receive the enemy's attack, and held its posi- 
tion under a heavy fire for about two hours, when, our ammunition being 
exhausted, we were ordered to the rear, and our places taken by the 
7th Minnesota. Companies E and H having been furnished ammunition, 
were allowed to remain at the front, and were thus kept constantly 
engaged during the entire action. After a rest of about forty-five 
minutes, and receiving a fresh supply of ammunition, we again moved 
forward, and took position in front, where we remained until ordered to 
charge, when we moved forward on the double-quick, driving the enemy 
from our front, and capturing a number of prisoners. Our loss during the 
day was one officer and six men killed, and thirty-nine men wounded. 
We consumed during the engagement over one hundred rounds of am- 
munition per man. The men of my command behaved nobly, and as an 
evidence of the cool, deliberate, and accurate manner in which our fire 
was delivered, I would refer you to the great number of the enemy's 
dead that were strewn in front of the line occvipied by my regiment. 

Lieut. A. A. Burdick, A. R. Q. M., who was killed, had been ordered 
to the rear with his train; but, after seeing his wagons pi'operly parked, 
he came to the front and volunteered to assist in bringing forward 
ammuntion. While thus engaged he was struck by a shell, and instantly 
killed. 

On the morning of the loth inst, my regiment was assigned a posi. 
tion to the left of the Pontotoc road, and formed the left center of the 
brigade line. We had a substantial breastwork of cotton bales in our 
front, which served as an admirable jDrotection against the enemy's 
sharpshooters. We took full part in the fight and charge of the day, 
losing one man killed and three wounded. Our loss during the three 



TUPELO 163 

days' fighting was one officer and eight men Itilled, one officer and flfty- 
four men wounded, and one man missing. My command numbered, on 
the first day's fight, two hundred and ninety-five muskets; on the second 
day, two hundred and fifty; and on the tnird day, about two hundred. I 
cannot consistently make particular mention of any members of the 
regiment, as every man was at his post, and all conducted themselves in 
a creditable manner. 

1 inclose herewith a list of casualties for the three days as follows: 
July 13th. KILLED— Co. D, Private John Nichols. 

WOUNDED— Co. I, Capt. Charles L. Sumbai^do, leg, severely: Co. D, 
Corp'l. James L. Cowell, arm, severely: Dennis Conley, 
hand, amputated; Henry W. Bailey, breast, slight; Wencil 
Doleshall, breast, slight: Co. G, Soran A. Sernson, leg, 
dangerously: Co. H, Corpl's John W. Benedict, hand 
severely: George W. Horner, hand, slight; Edward Beck- 
ett, leg, severely: Philip Henry, arm, severely: Co. I, 
Corp'l John F. Wilson, thigh, severely: Private John 
Devine, side, dangerously. 
MISSING— Co. D, Private A. E. Butolph. 

July 14th. KILLED— Co. G, 1st Lieut. Augustus A. Burdick: Co. B, 
Francis A. Winter: Co. E, Corp'l George R Holden: 
Co. I. Philetus S. Butters: Co. K, Serg't Pvobert Fowler, 
Corp'l Jeremiah J. Myers, Philip H. Rutter. 
WOUNDED— Co. B, John Dowling, thigh, severely; James W. Patter- 
son, head, dangerously; Frank Klees, face slightly: Bryant 
Maguire, shoulder, slightly; Wesley B. Bort, head, 
slightly: Isaac Woodmansee, shoulder, slight: Marcellus 
Pi-att, head, slight: Hugh McCabe, side, slightly: Co. C, 
Serg't Emery Clark, neck, dangerously; Serg't Jas. Stewart, 
arm and hip, severely: John W. McCall, head, slightly: 
Co. D, 1st Serg't Judson L. Bough ton, face, slightly; 
William W. Whitenack, arm, severely; Samuel Bum- 
gardner, side, slightly; Daniel Sivets, face, slightly: Co. 
E, Serg't Harvey Smith, thigh, slightly; Corp. Allen E. 
Talbot, head, severely; Nat'n'l Surfus, thigh, severely; 
Henry W. Crowhurst, leg, severely: Co. H, 1st Serg't V. 
V. Price, legs, dangerously: Sei^g't Ralph M. Grimns, arm, 
severely: Corpl's John B. Flenniken, shoulder, slightly; 
John S. Mason, face, slightly; John G. Currie, foot, 
slightly, and Patrick Hannan, arm, slightly: Co. I, Serg't 
J. Wain^en Cotes, breast, severely; Corpl's William Kohler, 
leg, severely; Michael D. Nagle, hand, slightly; Napoleon E. 



164 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

Austin, shoulder, severely; Alex. F. Jenkins, head, 
shoulder and thigh, severely; Samuel S. Kennedy, hand 
severely; Van Meter Snyder, shoulder, severely; John F. 
Butters, hip, slightly: Co. K, Serg't W. H. H. Blanch- 
ard, arm, head and hip, severely; Corpl's Chas. E. Mer- 
rian, hip, severely; Alvin Mosher, thigh, slightly; James 
Dillon, head, dangerously; William B. Keith, thigh, 
severely; Stephen N. Bugby, shoulder, slightly. 

July 15. KILLED— Co. B, August Leue. 

WOUNDED— Co. B, Thomas Dowling, leg, slightly: Co. D, Jeri- 
miah Williams, hip, dangerous: Co. I, James C. 
Buchanan, shoulder, slightly. 

TOTALS— Killed, 9; wounded, 54: missing 1. Total loss, 64. 

John H. Stibbs, 

Lt. Col. Comdg. 

Headquarters 3d Brig., 1st Div., 16th Army Corps, i 
Memphis, Tenn., July 23d, 1864. f 
Capt. I. B. Sample, A. A. Gen. ist Division, i6th Army Corps: 

I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of 
the 3d brigade in the late expedition in Mississippi. 

This brigade moved from La Grange, Tenn., with the right wing of 
the 16th arm^y corps, on the morning of the 5th day of July, and entered 
Pontotoc, Miss., on the evening of the 11th, and again marched from that 
place on the morning of the 13th. Up to this time, had not been engaged 
with the enemy. On the morning of the 13th we were on the march 
from Pontotoc to Tupelo in the following order: The 35th Iowa in 
advance, and immediately behind the brigade train of the 2d brigade; 
the 33d Missouri in front Jof the supply train; the 7th Minnesota and 
the 12th Iowa on the flank of the train. After 3 P. M. a volley was fired 
into the brigade train of the 2d brigade. Soon after this first volley, the 
enemy opened in heavy force on the right flank of the 7th Minnesota, and 
12th Iowa, who soon became hotly engaged with the enemy. After a 
sharp fight, we not only repulsed the enemy, butdi^ove him from the field. 

At 9 o'clock, July 14, the enemy in heavy force advanced upon our line, 
and attacked us warmly with artillery and musketry. Our men, without 
once wavering, returned the fire. A fierce engagement was kept up for 
three houi's, when our whole brigade chai'ged the enemy, driving him 
from the field, and getting possession of his killed and severely wounded, 
who lay thick upon the field. We also captured, at this time, several 
prisoners and one stand of colors, which fell into the hands of the 33d 
Missouri. We remained in our advanced position until it became evi- 



TUPELO 165 

dent the enemy was not likely to attack soon again, when we retired to 
our original position. 

On the morning- of the 15th, the 33d Missouri and 7th Minnesota 
were in line on the right of the Pontotoc road, the 12th Iowa and 35th 
Iowa on the left of said road, all behind tempoi'ary breastworks. In this 
position the brigade was ordered to remain concealed, and to reserve 
their fire until the enemy arrived to within fifty yards of our line. The 
enemy, advancing, opened a warm fire upon us, but at length, it becom- 
ing evident that he would not charge our line, or advance to the pre- 
scribed distance, a chaa"ge was ordered by the General commanding the 
division. The men charged with a will, when the enemy fled precip- 
itately. 

During these various actions the regimental commanders — Colonel 
Hill, 35th Iowa, Colonel Marshal, 7th Minnesota, Lieutenant Colonel 
Heath, 33d Missouri, and Lieutenant Colonel Stibbs, 12th Iowa — dis- 
played the utmost coolness and bravery, and discharged all their duties 
with alacrity. In this they were well sustained by the field and line 
officers of their commands, whilst the men pi^oved themselves worthy of 
the highest praise for their heroic conduct. Acting brigade Sui^geon 
Huff was very faithful and efficient in his duties with the wounded. 1 
return my thanks to the members of my staff, Lieuts. H. Hoover, Duncan, 
Read, and L. M. Crutz, for the aid they rendered me in the perform, 
ance of their duties. During these various actions the brigade lost: 
Officers killed, 3: officers wounded 3: enlisted men killed, 21; enlisted 
men wounded, 167: enlisted men missing, 3: total loss, 197. 
Respectfully submitted, 

J. J. Woods, Colonel commanding. 

CHAPLAIN HUMPHRF.Y'S, "12th IOWA AT TUPELO. 

* * After a day's rest at Pontotoc, the army marched for 
Tupelo. The rebels immediately commenced a harrassing attack upon 
o r train in the rear. It was defended by negro and other troops. About 
middle of the forenoon the 12th Iowa was ordered back to the defense of 
the train. This regiment had just taken the position assigned it when 
one of the flankers came in and informed the Adjutant, Lieutenant 
Reed, that the Rebels were about to attack the train. Lieutenant 
Colonel Stibbs and Major Van Duzee immediately formed the regiment 
in line of battle. The line had scarcely formed when the enemy, 1,000 
strong, advanced through the dense thicket, to within a few yards of 
our front. A terrible volley checked the advancing line of the enemy — 
a second drove them back. The 12th Iowa was oi-dered to the support of 
the 6th Indiana battery, and another regiment advanced and picked up 



166 TWELFTH REGIMENT lOlVA INFANTRY 

the colors left by the enemy in front of the 12th Iowa. In the afternoon 
another skirmish took place in which the 12th lost one man killed. 

Thursday morning: at 3 o'clock, July 14th, the army was under arms 
and formed in a commanding position. The army also had a strong position. 
He had defeated General Sturgis and pursued his broken battalions 
almost to Memphis. The prestig-e of this victory gave him confidence. The 
Rebel commander assurred his men that they had only negros and 100-days' 
men to fight. Little did they realize that our men were Veterans; that 
A. J.Smith was in command; that fighting Joe. Mower commanded the 
1st division, and that the cool and brave Colonel Woods commanded the 
brigade destined to hold that day the post of danger and of honor. '1 he 
enemy formed and advanced to the charge in magnificient style. On 
they came until within twenty rods of the 12th Iowa when the terrible 
storm of musketry swept them back in wild confusion. They formed 
again and advanced, presenting a front of half a mile long. They 
meet again that wasting fire, and break and fly. Thus the tide of battle 
ebbs and flows beneath the hot rays of the July sun, until General Mower 
became impatient of delay and ordered Colonel Woods to charge with 
his brigade. The line moved forward, the 12th Iowa in advance; but 
the Rebels, swift of foot, escape the steel of our bayonets, and seek safety 
in the timber. 

On the morning of the 16th, Smith's army continued the 
return march via Elliston, New Albany and Ripley, reaching 
La Grange, Tenn., July 21st. The next day we were given 
another free ride on box cars into Memphis, where, on the 
night of the 22d, we again occupied our pleasant camp in the 
suburbs of the city. 

Several days were given to scrubbing up, repairing dam- 
ages, and refitting; bat scarcely had we rested from the 
campaign, when on Saturday evening at 11 o'clock, July 
30th, orders were received to be ready to move again at 8 
o'clock next morning, in light marching order. Leaving the 
camp in charge of a few sick, we marched to the depot. 
Sunday morning took our accustomed places on cars, and 
before night were landed at Davis Mills, six miles southeast 
of La Grange. The next day we marched to Coldwater 
River. 

August 2d, the regiment formed the advance guard of 
he army as it marched into Holly Springs, Miss. Entering 



HOLL Y SPRINGS 167 

that town at 11 o'clock A. M., our regiment was at once de- 
tailed and distributed about the town as provost guards. 
This place had been called "The Garden City of Missis- 
sippi," and had doubtless been a very pretty place. In its 
suburbs it still retained some evidences of its former pros- 
perity; but had felt the effects of war very severely and 
showed these effects on every side. It was here that Gen- 
eral Grant established his depot of supplies in the fall of 
1862, when he started south on his first movement upon 
Vicksburg. Colonel Murphy was left in command of the 
post and in charge of the supplies of ammnnition stored 
there. Van Dorn made a sudden dash into the city, and, 
without the least opposition, captured it and 1,500 men; set 
fire to the warehouses, depots, etc., and retreated as sud- 
denly as he came. The fire, and the explosion of ammunition, 
destroyed the entire business portion of the town, as well as 
many private residences. We found the people who were 
still living there — mostly women and children— very unlike 
the people of other towns we had visited. While these made 
no pretense that they were loyal to the old Union, they were 
too politic to offer insult to our men. Many of the ladies 
asked for special guards at their houses, saying that their 
only fear was of the negro troops with us; that among these 
troops were some of their old servants, and they felt uncer- 
tain in regard to what they might do. In every instance 
where guards were sent they were invited into the 
house and to eat at the family table. The officers and 
men were in fact over run with invitations to dinners and 
teas. In return for this very pleasant reception our men 
were glad to give the homes of the people the fullest pro- 
tection, but while affording such protection to citizens they 
arrested several abled- bodied men who were pointed out to 
them as rebel soldiers. Some of these when arrested 
admitted that they were members of Forrest's command, and 
one, that he was wounded in our front at Tupelo, The regi- 



168 TWELF TH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y. 

ment remained here until the evening of the 9th when it was 
ordered to rejoin its brigade, which was then hotly engaged 
at the crossing of the Tallahatchie. The regiment reported 
to Colonel Woods at the Tallahatchie Wednesday morning; 
the 10th, at 9 o'clock, to find that the crossing had been 
secured by the 7th Minnesota and 35th Iowa after a sharp 
contest. Here we were joined by Companies A, and P, 
from White River Ark. These companies had not been with 
us to share the hardships and the honors of the Tupelo 
campaign, but they had not lost an opportunity to sustain 
the honor their regiment, the State and the flag. 

Captain Hunter of Company A was in command of the 
post at mouth of White River. His whole force consisted of 
two companies, fifty-five men all told. He received intima- 
tion that a force of the enemy was in his vicinity and com- 
menced the erection of a stockade, upon which the men 
worked late into the night of June 21st, but had not com- 
pleted the work. A gap of about twenty feet remaining open 
on one side. The weather was very warm and the boys, 
upon quitting work, divested themselves of all outward 
apparel, and went to sleep in their tents. Early in the 
morning of the 22nd, before reveille, they were suddenly 
attacked by a large force of rebels, who drove the picket in 
and followed close on their heels in a rush for the opening 
in the stockade. The boys in camp had no time to dress but 
catching their muskets and buckling on their cartridge boxes 
as they ran, they fell into line at the opening in the stock- 
ade just as the advance of the rebels reached that point. 
Here occurred a hand-to-hand conflict lasting only a few 
moments, but in that few moments the boys in a uniform 
consisting of nothing more than a shirt and cartridge box 
effectually repelled a force which consisted of a regiment. 
Captain Hunter and his command were highly complimented 
by General Burford, commanding the District of Helena. 
Captain Bremner, who participated in this splendid fight. 



MOUTH OF WHITE RIVER 169 

tells the story in a report to Adjutant General of Iowa, as 
follows: 

Selma, Ala., July 8th, 18(i5. 
N. B. Baker, Adjutant General of Iowa: 

Sir: I have the honor to report the action engaged in by Companies 
A and F, 12th Iowa Veteran Vohuiteer Infantry, at the mouth of White 
river, June 22d, 1864. 

Eai'ly on the morning of the 22d, and before many of the men were 
up, a single shot in the direction of the pickets aroused the sleepers — 
there was no time to dress before the enemy were upon us. There force 
consisted of four hundred men, of the 10th Missouri (rebel) Mounted 
Infantry, under the command of Lieutenat Colonel Lawler. Our entire 
force was fifty-five men, part of whom, being on picket were not engaged. 
Forty-eight muskets were the total. number in the stockade with which 
to defend the place. After firing the first shot on the pickets, the 
enemy came on the double-quick, bearing to our right with the evi- 
dent intention of getting inside the stockade, which at this point had only 
been partly completed the night previous. While advancing across an 
open field in front, a sharp fire was poured upon them, creating some 
confusion, and causing them to halt and re-form, when a part was thrown 
rapidly forward and gained the cover of some log huts that were very 
near the stockade, from which point they continued to annoy us with a 
galling fire for several minutes. The action at this time was quite severe, 
and the stockade being in an unfinished state several of the men were 
wounded behind it. Finding the attempt to surprise up had proved a 
failure, and that they were needlessly losing many of their men, they 
hastily withdrew, leaving all their dead and several of their wounded in 
our possession. The gun-boat Lexington, which had been lying near the 
bank a little below us, now got clear of the drift wood which had to this 
time delayed her free action, and steaming up opposite the scene of action 
gave the retreating foe a few parting shots. Not deeming it prudent to 
follow with the small force at command, no pursuit was ordered. Eleven 
of the enemy were killed, including a Major and Lieutenant; and citi- 
zens living on the road over which they passed report that at least four- 
teen were taken back wounded. 

Killed— Corporal George E. Hunter, Co. F. 

Wounded and since died— Sergeant Isaac Cottle, Co. F; Private Sea- 
mons Clapp, Co. F; Gustavus A. Black, Co. A. 

Wounded— Private Charles L. Coolidge, Co. F. in right breast, 
slightly. 

Capt, Joseph R. C. Hunter, Co. A, and Capt. William A. Morse, Co 



no TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

F, with the brave men under their command, performed their part with 
great credit. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

John Bremner, 
Capt. 12th Iowa Vet. Vol. Inf., com'd'g Co. F. 
On the 13th of August our brigade had a skirmish at 
Hurricane creek, driving the enemy back and holding the 
position until a bridge could be built, which was completed 
on the 21st and the whole force preceded to Oxford, Miss., 
where a small force of the enemy was driven off. The largest 
part of Forrest's force having made a detour around our 
army and, thinking, doubtless that Memphis had been left 
unprotected made a dash into that city at 4 o'clock on the 
morning of Aug. 21st, and succeed in penetrating to the 
very heart of the town, some of his men riding their horses 
to the second floor of the Gayoso house and taking some of 
our officers prisoners from their beds. The raiders were 
undoubtedly after General Washburn, but he received warn- 
ing in time to escape, by a back door, in his night shirt and 
sought shelter in Fort Pickering. The 8th Iowa, on duty in 
the city rallied and drove the raiders out with a loss of quite 
a number of their men, in killed, wounded and prisoners. 
The loss was small, however, and about equal on each side. 
As Forrest failed to secure any prominent prisoners, or to 
carry off any plunder his raid was not a great success. 

At Oxford General Smith received orders to return to 
Memphis, immediately and report with his two divisions to 
General Sherman near Atlanta. This order had been long 
looked for and was heartily welcomed by most of the men in 
the command. Our Mississippi campaigns had been very 
severe in long hot marches and severe fighting, with appar- 
ently very little in results to show for our summer's work, 
and all folt that campaigning with the main army would be 
much more agreeable. The great battles being fought by 
Sherman, while showing large aggregate losses, were usually 



OXFORD, MISS. 171 

much less severe in individual regiments, and those engaged 
had the advantage of a position where the eyes of the whole 
country were upon them. 

General Smith, on behalf of his divisions, had made 
earnest efforts to be trasferred to Sherman's immediate com- 
mand, and had been only partially conciliated by a letter 
from General Sherman assuring him, that: His two divis- 
ions operating in Mississippi and keeping Forrest away from 
the railroads to Nashville had rendered much more effective 
service, for the main army, than they could have done if 
present with it in the field. It would seem, from reading 
the correspondence now published, that there had been quite 
a strife over these two divisions. Canby had made an effort 
to have them sent to his department and succeeded in ob- 
taining an order from the war department, assigning Smith 
and two divisions to Department of the Gulf. Washburn 
had the order countermanded when Sturgis was defeated by 
Forrest, and retained Smith in his department, Sherman then 
issued his orders as above, when Rosecrans succeeded better 
than either of the others by simply stealing both divisions 
as we shall see later. 

On 10th of April Sherman wrote to General Grant: "It 
will take all of April to get in our furloughed Veterans and 
bring up A. J. Smith's command * * * , McPherson 
will have nine divisions if A. J. Smith gets here, in which case 
he will have fully thirty thousand of the best men in 
America." In his Memories General Sherman says: 

"There was great danger always, in my mind that Forx'est would 
collect a heavy cavalry force in Mississippi, cross the Tennessee river and 
l>reak up our railroad below Nashville. In contemplation of this danger, 
I had sent General Sturgis to Memphis to take command of the cavalry 
in that quarter, to go out towards Pontotoc, engaged Forrest and defeat 
him; but on the l-4th of June I leai^ned that General Sturgis had himself 
been defeated on the 10th of .June and had been driven by Forrest back 
into Memphis in considerable confusion. I expected that this would 
soon be followed by a general raid on all our roads in Tennessee. 
General Smith, with the two divisions of the 16th corps which had been 



172 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

up Red River, had returned from that illfated expedition, and had been 
ordered to General Can by at Neiu Orleans, but on hearing of General 
Sturgis' defeat I ordered General Smith to go out from Memphis and 
renew the offensive so as to keep Forrest oft' our roads. This he did, 
finally defeating Forrest at Tupelo on the 13th, 14th and 15th days of 
July, and he so stirred up matters in North Mississippi that Forrest 
could not leave for Tennessee. This for a time left me only the task of 
Governing the roads against such minor detachments of cavalry as John- 
son could spare from the main army." 

Had these explanations been made at the time the army 
of General Smith would have been saved many hours of 
speculation as to "what the old grey beard is trying to do 
with us, any way." Possibly it was just as well that we 
should learn "not to question why," but then we did, and 
always took the soldier's privilege of asking questions and 
wondering why we were marched out of Memphis, and then 
marched back again so often, even if our questions were not 
answered. However, we were now ordered to Sherman, 
where we desired to be, and started back to Memphis in good 
spirits. At the crossing of the Tallahatchie, August 24, the 
enemy, thinking to catch our rear guard after most of the 
army had crossed, made a sudden dash. They found a larger 
rear guard than they anticipated and were defeated, and left 
nine killed, five mortally wounded, and eleven others prison- 
ers in our hands. 

We camped at Waterford on the 25th, and the next day 
marched into Holly Springs. As the head of the column ap- 
proached that city, General Smith was met by a delegation 
of citizens, with a petition asking that thel2th Iowa be sent 
forward to act as -provost guards again. 

It is said that General Smith bit off the end of his cigar, 
chewed it up, and spit it out in the nervous way he had, and, 
with a superabundance of adjectives, said to the committee: 

"The 12th Iowa is one of my best fighting regiments; 

I think it is a doubtful compliment for you rebels to 

want it to guard your town, and an imposition on 



HOLL Y SPRINGS 173 

the regiment to ask them to do it; but if those boys are will- 
ing to stand guard they may." He halted the column; 
sent back to where the 12th was marching; ordered it for- 
ward, with instructions to take entire charge of the private 
property in the town, and see to it that he heard a good re- 
port of their conduct. For however roughly he might talk 
about it, he was pleased with the order which had been main- 
tained while we were there before. 

The regiment marched into town in advance of all other 
troops ; guards were soon distributed as before and every- 
thing remained quiet and orderly. When the balance of the 
army had marched away next day, our regiment fell in as 
rear guard and evacuated the town about noon. The good 
understanding existing between the citizens and our boys was 
shown by the fact that in relieving guard, one man had been 
overlooked, and was still at his post when the rebels, follow- 
ing our rear, came into town. The citizens where the guard 
was stationed gave him warning and concealed him until 
dark and then piloted him safely to our camp at Davis Creek. 
Another instance is that of Mrs. Kaiser, whose husband was 
then a prisoner of war in our hands at Camp Douglass. She 
discovered three of the 14th Iowa prisoners in the hands of 
Chalmers' force. She went out, and ascertaining that they 
were Iowa men, invited them in, gave them a splendid dinner, 
furnished them writing material to write to their friends, and 
then took the letters personally and delivered them to 
officers of the regiment to be mailed. She said: " This was 
because they were Iowa men. If they had been 12th Iowa 
men I would have made Chalmers release them." This on 
account of considerate treatment she received from two of 
Co. B., boys that were on guard at the house. 

Aug. 29th the command was back at L»a Grange again, 
where we formed a garrison of 100 day men, commanded by 
Col. Henderson, holding the place and waiting our return. 
Next day we returned to Memphis and again occupied our 



174 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTR Y. 

camp. Col. Woods' official report of the expedition is as 
follows : 

Headquarters 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 16th A. C. 
Memphis. Tenn., Aug. 31, 1864. 
Capt. J. B. Sample, A. A. G. 

Sir: * * "^ On the morning of July 31, the 12th Iowa, 
7th Minn , 33d Mo. and 35 'h Iowa, of this brigfade, took the cars at this 
place and moved to Davis Mills, Miss. August 1 marched via. Lamar 
and Coldwater, and on the morning of August 2d reached Holly Springs, 
where the 12th Iowa was detailed as provost guards. On the morning of 
August 5th the remaining three regiments moved by railroad to Water- 
ford. August 7th the 7th Minn, and 35th Iowa moved to the Tallahatchie 
river to protect our pioneer corps, who were constructing a bridge. 
They found the enemy's pickets on the north side of the river whom 
they attacked and drove across the river, capturing the flat boat used as 
a ferry and establishing pickets on the south side of the river. Their 
position was shelled for a short time that night. Next morning the two 
regiments crossed over and work began on the bridge. On the 7th the 
6th Indiana battery reported, and on the 8th the 33d Mo. and battery 
moved to the Tallahatchie. On the 9th the brigade moved into camp 
on the south side of the Tallahatchie. During the skirmishing on the 
7th, 8th and 9th the 7th Minn, had three men wounded. On the 10th of 
August the 12th Iowa rejoined the brigade. On the 2l8t the brigade 
moved to Hurricane Creek. On the 25th marched to Waterford and 26th 
to Holly Springs. The 12th Iowa was again detailed as provost guards. 

Very respectfully, 

J. J. Woods, Col. Comd'g Brigade. 

Our stay in Memphis was very short indeed. We had 
expected to pack up all our belongings and start for Atlanta 
immediately, but those orders were very suddenly changed — 
so far as they referred to the 1st division — and we were 
ordered to another field of operations. 

The Confederate Generals, Price, Mannaduke and Shel- 
by had organized a force in Arkansas and were threatening 
Litte Rock, where General Steele was in command with a 
force thought to be unable to contend against this combined 
enemy. The order for 1st division to report to Sherman was 
suspended for the time being, and while the 3d division pro- 
ceeded by boats up the river, the 1st division was directed 



TO ARk^ANSAS 175 

to leave camp and all baggage in care of convalescents, and 
report to General Steele at, or near, Little Rock, Ark. 

Under these orders the 12th Iowa embarked Sept. 2d on 
Steamer Mattie, the balance of the division on other boats. 
The next day we were off down the river, the whole fleet 
under command of General Mower, who had just received his 
promotion to Major General for services at Tupelo. 

Entering White River on the morning of the 4th, we 
reach St. Charles on evening of the 5th. On account of some 
movements of the enemy the whole force was disembarked 
at St. Charles, but on the 8th re-embarked and proceeded to 
Devall's Bluffs and again disembarked. 

On the 10th we started for Brownsville, marching 18 
miles that ofternoon, across a perfectly level prairie, desti- 
tute of water of any kind except what we carried in canteens- 
We camped at night in a grove, near a slough which fur- 
nished water for camp. Next day we marched to Browns- 
ville where it was ascertained that the Confederate forces 
had avoided Little Rock and, crossing the river below, had 
already started north with their whole force, intending evi- 
dently to invade Missouri. Some one in authority conceived 
the brilliant idea of starting infantry after these mounted 
raiders, and, doubtless, concluding that men of General 
Mower's division had become so hardened to marching that 
they would enjoy the tramp, procured orders which resulted 
in organizing a force consisting of Mower's division of infan- 
try and a small force of cavalry under Col. Winslow, all to be 
under command of General Mower, and started this force in 
pursuit of the mounted forces of Price, already several days 
in advance. 

Mower's force was rendezvoued at Brownsville, and 
equipped with an abundant supply of ammunition and ten 
days" rations. Teams and wagons for the ammunition were 
furnished for the expedition and drivers detailed from the 
command, but teams for the rations were loaned from Steele's 



176 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

command with orders to accompany the expedition a few 
days only, until the rations could be unloaded into haver- 
sacks, when the teams should return. These teams, escorted 
by 9th Iowa cavalry, accompanied us to Red river, where 
the rations were unloaded and wagons and escort returned. 

Among other preparations made for furnishing supplies, 
General Mower directed a detail of one man from each com- 
pany to collect beef cattle from the country. The men so 
detailed were placed under the command of an officer from 
the Q. M. Dept. and were directed to supply themselves with a 
mount at earliest possible moment after the march should 
begin, and be ready to help drive in the beef. 

Supplies and ammunition having been received, Mower's 
command left Brownsville Sept. 17th, marching directly 
north, passing on the 18th through Austin, where the 9th Iowa 
cavalry was encamped. As our command passed along the 
road the cavalry boys came out to see the troops and exchange 
greetings with acquaintances. Hugh McCabe of Co. B, one 
of the detail of foragers who had been directed to procure 
a mount, passed through the camp of the 9th, and seeing a 
horse saddled and bridled hitched to a stump, thought it a 
good opportunity to procure his desired outfit all at once. 
He quickly unfastened the said horse, mounted to his back 
and rode off, justifying the taking in his own way by saying: 
"Faith, and it's Uncle Sam's own horse, and it can be no 
difference to him whichever of his boys rides him." When 
he found that the whole 9th regiment was ordered out as 
train escort and were following the command, ho experi- 
enced some difficulty in keeping out of sight, but succeeded 
in doing so, until the 9th turned back, and then made excel- 
lent use of the cavalry horse in bringing in supplies of beef, 
etc. It was thought no less a good joke when it was after- 
wards found that the horse belonged to a company from the 
same town that Co. B was from, and that the captain who was 
responsible for the horse was one of McCabe's old neighbors. 



PRICE'S RAID 177 

Since "the cruel war was over" the captain and the forager 
have seldom met at camp-fire or Post without passing jokes 
about captured cavalry horse, which the captain says he 
reported as "Stolen by 12th Iowa Jayhawkers." 

On the evening of the 19th the command crossed Little 
Red river at a ford where the water was about four feet deep, 
the current very swift and the bed of the stream rocky. 
Many of the boys, more particular than the rest, removed 
their clothes, and making them into a bundle held them above 
their heads as they waded into the stream. Every few 
moments some unlucky one of these careful fellows, would 
step upon a sharp or slippery stone, and in a sudden effort 
to regain his balance would bring his bundle down, slap, into 
the water and, being carried off his feet, go floundering 
down stream, greeted by the shouts of his comrades. As we 
camped upon the bank of the river that night the rations 
were all distributed and the borrowed wagons were sent 
back to Brownsville. 

The march was continued each succeeding day without 
incident worthy of note, our route following the trail of 
Shelby's rebel division, over verj'- rough roads — across the 
spurs of Ozark mountains, and then along the swampy mar- 
gins of streams. Crossing White river by ford on the 22d 
we reached Black river about 8 o'clock P. M. to find that 
the bridge had been burned, and that the water was too 
deep to be forded. The approach to the river was over a 
corduroy road through a swamp impassible on either side. 
Along this road the column was strung out when the head of 
it reached the river, and it was found that there was no pos- 
sible room to camp the troops or park the teams, the '* In 
place rest " was about the only order which could be executed, 
and the army bivouacked where it stood, each man securing 
for himself as comfortable a place as possible, and making 
his own arrangements for supper and bed as best he could. 
The pioneer corps, commanded by Capt. S. G. Knee of the 



178 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y 

12th, was sent forward to make a bridge. Crossing over to 
a small town, called Elgin, the pioneer corps found a small 
saw-mill in running order. With this they got out plank 
for bridge covering. They then tore down a cotton press 
for the timbers for stringers, and at 3 o'clock P. M. on the 
23d had a bridge completed 320 feet long, upon which the 
army crossed in safety, and camped that night at Miller's 
church, occupying the exact ground upon which Shelby had 
camped three days before. The march was continued up 
the east bank of Black river, about 20 miles each day, pass- 
ing through Pocahontas, Ark., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., and 
reaching Greenville, Mo., October 2d. Here it was learned 
that Price's forces were at Ironton, 40 miles north of us, and 
that he had been met there by Union troops, and after a 
sharp engagement he had turned northwest. 

Prom Greenville we marched directly to Cape Girard- 
eau, Mo., reaching that place on the 5tb, after 19 days con- 
secutive marching, in which time we had marched 336 miles, 
forded seven rivers, and bridged one 320 feet wide; had 
waded and hauled our artillery and train through some of 
the worst swamps in the country; the rear guard often toil- 
ing all night to get the train into camp. This was the case 
on September 30, when the 12th was rear guard, and 
marched from Poplar Bluff to Chipman's ford, dragging the 
wagon train out of mud holes all day, and when night came, 
it was so dark that the men were compelled to light candles 
and torches to find the road, and finally succeeded in getting 
the last wagon across the stream and into camp, just as the 
troops that had been in advance of the train were beating 
reveille for morning of October Ist. Six days out of the 
nineteen the rain had fallen continuously all day and all 
night. All this continuous marching had been accomplished 
with only ten days' rations. Some of the way the roads 
were rough and full of flinty rock which cut away the shoes, 
so that upon our arrival at Cape Girardeau, five officers and 



PRICE'S RAID 179 

102 men of the 12th Iowa— out of a total of 250 — were hare- 
footed. Others had old coffee sacks wound on their feet to 
protect them from the sharp rocks. As far as foot covering 
was concerned, the army was doubtless as destitute as the 
old army at Valley Forge, and could have been tracked as 
far, by the blood in the snow. 

I presume, a dirtier, raggeder set never marched into 
any town than Mower's men were when they reached Cape 
Girardeau, and it was not to be wondered at that the militia 
stationed there was alarmed at our approach, thinking that 
we were surely a part of the guerrilla force that they had 
been expecting to attack the town. During the march from 
Brownsville we had demonstrated the fact that men could 
march further in a given time than horses or mules, for 
there were very few cavalry horses in the command fit for 
further service, and nearly half of the mules had been left 
used up upon the road. Altogether, the march was a very 
severe one, and we were glad to get out of the wilderness, 
and be in communication with the world again. 

In crossing the state line, we had transferred ourselves 
from District of Arkansas to District of Missouri, and found 
that we were now subject to the orders of General Rosen- 
crans. 

The movements of Price into the state had so threatened 
St. Louis that the 3d division had been diverted from its 
route to Atlanta; had been called to St. Louis, and was now 
confronting Price in the vicinity of Ironlon. General Mower 
was directed to proceed to the same field via. St. Louis. 
Remaining at Cape Girardeau only one day— long enough to 
have boats sent down from St. Louis— the division embarked 
for that city. The 12th regiment left camp about 2 o'clock 
A. M., October 7th; marched to steamboat landing, where 
Companies B, E and G embarked on the steamer Argonaut, 
the balance of the regiment on the steamer Armenia. The 



180 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

lower decks of both boats were occupied by cavalry and 
artillery. 

The fleet arrived at St. Louis the same evening, where 
two days were spent in receiving supplies, clothing, etc., 
which would fit the men for further service. On the 10th, 
the infantry of Mower's division was started up the Missouri 
river on boats, with orders to report at Jefferson City, 
against which Price was marching his forces. The Twelfth 
was on the steamer Empire with brigade headquarters. This 
boat proved to be too large for the shallow waters of the 
Missouri, and for eight days was for most of the time stuck 
on sandbars. Pour times during the trip the entire regiment 
was disembarked, and with hawsers to the shore pulled the 
boat off the bars. The men would march around the bar and 
re-embark above. On the night of the 13th, while the regi- 
ment was on land, the boat backed off a bar, and in attempt- 
ing to pass it near the other shore, became fast again in a 
position that the regiment could neither help it off or re-em- 
bark, and was compelled to pass the night on shore without 
blankets, shelter, or food, and found in the morning that the 
ground was covered with white frost. Finally, after these 
several delays, the regiment arrived at Jefferson City Octo- 
ber 18th, to find that Price had turned west before reaching 
the city, and that a portion of our cavalry force was in his 
front, and that the balance of our division had left Jefferson 
City in pursuit. 

General Sherman was still protesting in strong language 
against our diversion from his command. He says, in a letter 
to General Grant: "I think it will be found that the move- 
ments of Price and Shelby are mere diversions. They can- 
not hope to enter Missouri except as raiders, and General 
Rosencrans should be ashamed to ask my troops for such a 
purpose." In his memoirs, Sherman says: "General Smith, 
at that time, was in Missouri with two divisions of the 16th 
corps, which had been diverted to that quarter.''^ 

By constant effort, to get some part of the command, 



PRICES RAID 181 

General Sherman succeeded in getting General Mower, per- 
sonally, detached and ordered to Atlanta. General Mower 
had served constantly with this division for over two years. 
First, as Colonel of the 11th Missouri, then as Commander 
of the 2nd brigade, and later as Commander of the division. 
Under his command the division had won distinction and its 
members had learned such confidence in themselves, in each 
other, and in their Commander, that they felt that they 
could not be beaten. In its turn the division had won for 
"Fighting Joe. Mower" the stars of a Major General. The 
regrets expressed by the General in his farewell order were 
reciprocated by the command. General Mower left the 
command at St. Charles, Mo., October 11th, 1864, and Col. 
J. J. Woods succeeded him in command of the division, and 
Colonel Hill, 35th Iowa, succeeded to the command of the 
brigade. 

From Jefferson City the 12th was transported to La Mine 
river by rail. Finding the bridge at that place destroyed 
the regiment left the cars and marched to Sedalia, overtak- 
ing the balance of the division on the 19th of October, From 
Sedalia we marched with our command via. Lexington, Inde- 
pendence, Blue River and Kansas City — nearly all the time 
within hearing of the skirmish and occasional artillery firing 
in front, but never quite near enough to take part in the 
affair ourselves. Our cavalry force was not strong enough 
to do more than harrass Price. He would engage the cav- 
alry until the head of the infantry force came in sight then 
brush them away and move on. His men all mounted, and 
able to secure remounts from the country whenever a horse 
gave out, led the infantry a long stern chase, without their 
being able to get a good sight of his retreating army. At 
the crossing, of Blue river, October 23rd, the fighting in 
front became quite lively, and, hoping to catch the enemy at 
the crossing, theinf antry was pushed rapidly to the front all 
day and into the night, until we had marched 37 miles, with- 



182 TWELFIH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY 

in the 24 hours, and reached the river to find the game had 
escaped. 

From that point some of our cavalry was able to get 
upon Prices' flank and as he turned south his force broke up 
and in a final engagement near Lone Tree our cavalry suc- 
ceeded in making a break and capturing General Marmaduke 
and about 1,000 of his men. This so broke up and scattered 
Price's army that pursuit by infantry was abandoned at 
Harrison ville. Mo., on the 26th. The prisoners were sent to 
St. Louis. Lieutenant Colonel Stibbs, being detailed as 
special guard for General Marmaduke, left the command of 
the regiment to Major Van Duzee. 

We remained three days at Harrisonville, taking a much 
needed rest after a march of 176 miles in eight consecutive 
days. 

Colonel Woods, in his monthly report for the 1st divis- 
ion, Oct. 31st, closes as follows: 

"During the month the division has been actively 
engaged as a portion of the army pursuing the rebel General 
Price through Missouri. Marching has been almost continu- 
ous and very hard, making as high as 33 miles per day." 

October 30th we started on return march for St. Louis, 
300 miles away. It seemed to some of us that it was a little 
tough to )itareh entirely across the state when there was a 
railroad all the way, but it appeared that it was necessary to 
use the railroad facilities to transport prisoners, broken down 
cavalry horses and their riders; the artillery with all its 
horses and men; worn out mules, etc. These must be spared 
but "Smith's guerillas" had hQQu diverted to this district, were 
borrowed in fact, and must expect to march, and they did, 
through snow and mud; rain and shine; resting only one day 
in sixteen, reaching St. Louis November 16th. Only a few 
incidents worthy of note occurred during the march. 

November 3d, it snowed all day. A wet sticky snow 
that stuck where it fell and on the backs of the men melted 



PRICE'S RAID 183 

and saturated the clothing like a sponge, yet they marched 
all day reaching Sedalia at night, and were then ordered into 
camp where it was impossible to obtain a stick of wood, rails, 
trees or anything that would make a fire. This could not 
be endured, and the officers of the regiment went into the 
city and found old stores, or sheds where the men could be 
sheltered and then obtained permission to take their men into 
the city where each company commander found quarters for 
his men until morning and most of the ofiicers took quarters 
at a hotel. 

Two days after, at California, we camped again in the 
snow ten inches deep, but here we had plenty of timber to 
cut, and soon had big fires which melted the snow away 
until we had dry places upon which to spread blankets, and 
we slept very comfortably, notwithstanding we had an extra 
blanket of four inches of snow over us when we awoke in 
the morning. 

Brig. Gen. J. McArthur, appointed as successor of 
General Mower, joined his division at Sedalia and assumed 
command. Colonel Woods returning to command of 3d 
brigade. 

November 8th, election day, we left Jefferson City, and 
about noon forded Osage river. This stream was wide, the 
water about waist deep, and running full of slush ice. It was 
a hard thing to ask men to wade through such a stream, and 
all along the line, as we approached the bank, the men could 
be heard declaring: "I will never go through there! Might 
as well be shot for disobeying orders as die in that river." 
Other like expressions were common but the command kept 
moving forward and as one after another of the objectors 
reached the stream they march in, like the rest, and with 
many a sigh and quickly drawn breath held their places till 
all were across. With all its cold and unpleasantness there 
was left some fun for the boys, as when a cannoneer, sitting 
astride the muzzle of his gun and guying the infantry, was 



184 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

suddenly immersed, by being tipped backwards into the 
water. It was still more fun to see a couple of officers get 
ducked. One who was fortunate enough to have a horse to 
ride had kindly taken a brother officer up behind for a "lift" 
over the stream. This gave the lucky fellow a chance to 
laugh at his less fortunate comrades, until in the middle of 
the stream the horse suddenly refused to carry double and 
lying down rolled both the officers into the water. Then the 
laugh and shout was, emphatically, from the other side. 
Immediately after crossing the Osage the Iowa regiments 
were allowed to halt and vote for President. Officers and 
men, who had horses to ride, were appointed as judges of 
election. The votes w^ere polled and the regiment continued 
the march, leaving the judges to count the ballots and make 
returns. The result in 12th Iowa was: Total vote cast 210 
— Lincoln, 190; McClellan, 20. We camped that night at 
Westphalia, Mo., going into camp after dark and in the 
midst of a furious rainstorm. There was no possibility of 
seeing where we were going, and the regiment just halted 
and every man found a place in which to rest and spread his 
blanket as best he could by feeling, until the rain ceased 
and fires could be started. 

November 15th, we marched into Benton Barracks at 
2 o'clock, P. M., where; very comfortable quarters were 
secured at once and all our hardships were soon forgotten as 
we gathered around the old coal heaters in pleasant barracks, 
very much the same as they were when occupied by us three 
years before. Our march from Harrisonville to St. Louis, 
303 miles, had been made in fifteen days of marching and 
only one day of rest. Three days of snow storm were 
included in the time. 

Reviewing the whole campaign from Memphis, where i 
our camp still stood. We had traveled in two and a half 
months — by steamboat, 772 miles; by rail, 50 miles, and had 
marched 950 miles. Since June 16th, we had added to this thQ 



PRICE'S RAID 185 

two Mississippi campaigns serving altogether in five different 
States, Tennessee, Mississipi, Arli:ansas, Missouri and Kan- 
sas; had been constantly on the move, resting in our regular 
camp only ten days in five months. 

No wonder that the department commanders all around 
us were quarreling to see who should have the "travelers" 
next. 

Even now we were not to rest, for before reaching St. 
Louis orders had been received to hasten Smith's divisions 
to Nashville to assist Thomas in repelling Hood's invasion of 
Tennessee. 

At St. Louis, Colonel Woods; who had served more than 
his full term of three years, was mustered out and returned to 
his home. During his term of service Colonel Woods had 
been in command of a brigade a large part of the time, and 
several times in command of a division. His qualifications 
and service entitled him to promotion but he would not use 
political influence to secure such advancement. Modest, 
kind and unassuming in camp; he was an ideal commander 
on the battle field; brave without rashness, and too careful 
of his men to expose them unnecessarily. Several other 
officers of the regiment mustered out on expiration of service. 
Promotions to fill the vacancies were made, as may be seen 
in roster of regiment. 

Some of the oflBcial orders for the campaign in Arkan- 
sas and Missouri are as follow^s: 

COLONEL HILL'S MONTHLY REPORTS FOR OCT. AND NOV. 

* * October 4th; raining and roads bad; made a forced march; 
encamped at 8 P. M. on White Water creek, 30 miles. Oct. 5; marched 
to Cape Graideau, 19 miles; encamped one mile below town. This con- 
cludes a march of 317 miles in 19 days, from Brownsville, Ark. * * *■ 
Oct. 19; marched via Sedalia to Roletta; went into camp at 11:30 P. M., 
33 miles; command nearly exhausted. Oct. 21: marched into Lexington, 

25 miles. * * Nov. 8; marched from Jefferson City to Westphalia, 

26 miles; forded Osage river. * * Nov. 15; marched 22 miles to St. 
Louis aud moved into Benton Barracks. 



186 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR Y 

"Headquarters, DiST. West, Tenn., \ 
Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 1, 186-4. ^ 
Major Gen. A. J. Smith, Comcfg Right Wing, i6th A. C. 

General: — You will order Brig. Gen. J. A. Mower, commanding 1st 
division, to embark the effective force of his division upon transports 
with ten days' rations and a full supply of ammunition, and move with the 
least possible delay to Devall's Bluff's on White River, and re-enforce that 
post, reporting to Maj. Gen. Steele. As soon as the emergency is over, 
and the troops now assailing General Steele are drawn back, General 
Mower, with his command, will report back here. 
I am. General, your obt. servt, 

C. C. Washburn, Maj. General. 



"Headquarters 1st Div., 16th A. C., ) 
Special Order, ^ Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1864. \ 

No. 124. f The Brigade Commanders of this division 

will have their commands ready to embark on boats to-night. No men 
will be left behind except those who are sick a7id excused by Brigade 
Surgeon * * * . 

By order of Brig. Gen. J. A. Mower. 
Chas. Christensen, Lt. and A. A. A. Gen." 



"Headquarters Dist. West T enn. ) 
Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 2, 1864. S 

Maj. Gen, E. R. Canby, Comd^g Div. West Miss., 

New Orleans, La. 
General : — Advices from Devall's Bluff's represents that Shelby 
had cut the railroad between there and Little Rock and captured 450 
men. Yesterday I received despatches that the enemy had captured 
Pine Bluff' and St. Charles and was about to attack Devall's Bluffs, I 
immediately ordered Maj. Gen. Mower, to proceed to White River with 
his division and relieve our forces. * * 

I am. General, very respectfully, etc., 

C. C. Washburn, Maj. Gen." 



"Headquarters 1st Div. 16th A. C, ] 
Saint Charles, Ark., Sept. 5, 1864. f 

Maj. Gen. C C. Washburn, Comd'g Dist. West Tenn. 

Sir: — I have the honor to report the arrival of the greater part of 
my command here at 5 o'clock this evening. * * * \ am hoping that 



PRICE'S RAID 187 

it will not be necessary for my command to remain here long-, as I know 
that General Sherman is very much in need of us. 

I am, General, very respectfully, yours, 

Joseph A. Mower, Maj. Gen. Comd'y Div." 



" Headquarters 1st Div. 16th A. C, | 
Saint Charles, Ark., Sept. 186-t. \ 

Maj. Gen. F. Steele, ComcVg Dept. of Ark. 

General: — 1 have the honor to report the arrival of my command 
here, I have about ■4,000 infantry, 2 batteries, and 250 cavalry. I enclose 
herewith the extract from a letter of instructions from Maj. Gen. Wash- 
burn in which he directs me to return as soon as possible. 

An officer from General Sherman arrived at Memphis the day before 
I left, for the purpose of taking the right wing of 16th A. C. to Atlanta. 
This is, I presume, the reason of General Washburn's earnest desire 
that 1 return as soon as possible. I am awaiting your orders as to 
whether I shall remain here or proceed further. 

I am, General, very respectfully, your obt serv't. 

Joseph A. Mower, 

Maj. Gen. Comd'g Div." 



"Headquarters Dept. Ark., 1 
Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 6, 1864. j 

Maj. Gen. Mower, Comd'g ist Div. i6th A. C: 

General:— Please bring your division to Devall's Bluff. It can be 
of no use to me at Saint Charles. I am anxious to put an end to the bold 
career of B^agan and Shelby and hope, with your assistance, to make 
quick work of it. 

Very respectfully, 
F. Steele, Maj. Gen. Comd'g. 



Telegram. 

"St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8, 1864. 
General A. J. Smith, Cairo, 111. 

General Halleck telegraphs that you have General Grant's orders to 
operate against Price and will confer zvith me. Come up and bring all 
the information you can. 

W, S. RoSENCRANS, Maj. Gen." 



188 TWELFTH REGIMEN! IOWA INFANTRY. 

"Cairo, Sept 8, 1864. 
Maj. Gkn. Halleck: 

I am here and will wait the order of Maj. Gen. Sherman. 

A.J Smith, Maj. Gen.' 



"Washington, Sept. 9, 1864. 
Lt. Gen. Grant, City Point, Va.: 

Sherman Consents to Smith going west. I have directed him to 
prepare his command for immediate operations. The question seems to 
be between his landing at Cape Girardeau, or returning to join Mower 
on the White River. Please signify your wishes on this point. 

H. W. Haixeck, Maj. Gen. and Chief of Staff." 



"CiTT Point, Va., Sept. 9, 1864. 

Maj. Gen. Halleck, Chief of Staff : 

I do not know enough of Price's strength and position to say what 
course A J. Smith should pursue. It probably will be best to give 
A. J. Smith the problem of catching Price and l«>t him work it out his 
own way. 

U. S. Grant, Lt. General." 



General Grant's advice was not followed. A. J. Smith 
did not get the problem to work out in his own way, but his 
command was trailed around over the state, following Price's 
cavalry and was finally left to march back to St. Louis under 
rush orders to join General Thomas at Nashville. 



Report of Major General Kosem-rans. 

"Department of Missouri, December 7, 1864. 

* * * On the 3d of September General Washburn gave informa- 
tion that a force under Shelby was about to join Price for the invasion 
of Missouri. On the 6th Maj. Gen. Smith was passing Cairo with a div- 
ision of infantry, on the way to General Sherman. I telegraphed Gen- 
eral Halleck and obtained orders to halt the division, to operate against 
Price & Co. * * * On the 5th of October General Mower reported at 
Cape Girardeau, out of supplies; his teams worn out, his cavalry dis- 



PRICE'S RAID 189 

mounted and horses unshod. Transportation and supply boats were sent 
to him, and on the 8tli and 9th his command reached St. Louis, and was 
pushed forward to join General Smith. On the 17th Mower's infantry 
joined General Smith at La Mine river bridg-e. * » * Capturing at 
Little Osaere crossing-: 2 stands of colors, Maj. Gen. Marmaduke, Brig. 
Gen. Cabell, 5 Colonels, many other officers and 1,000 prisoners. * * * 
Meanwhile, at Sherman's urgent request, followed by orders from the 
General-in-Chief, I directed General Smith to move his command by the 
most expeditious route, to St. Louis, * then to embark and proceed to 
Nashville and report to Maj. Gen. Thomas. 

Maj. Gen. Smith deserves thanks for promtitude, enei'gy and perse- 
verence in all his movements. Nor must I omit a tribute of admiration 
to these brave and true soldiers who, under Mower, followed Price from 
Arkansas, marching 300 miles in 18 days, and then after going by boat 
to Jefferson City, again resuming the march of 162 miles, and then em- 
barked for Nashville to take part in the contest before that city, for the 
mastery of middle Tenness ee * * *. 

W. S. ROSENCRANS, Maj. Gen. Comd'g." 

* Note— The most cxpcditioxis route, according to Eoseucrans' idea, was to march 
the infantry 400 miles, while his railroad trains were occupied in transporting worn out 
horses and broken down mules and other plunder. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Battle of Nashville — December, 1864. 



After the capture of Atlanta, and while General Sherman 
was preparmg for the "March to the Sea," General Hood, 
C. S. A., in an attempt to draw Sherman away from Atlanta, 
concentrated an army at Tuscumbia, Ala., and made prepara- 
tion to cross the Tennessee river and invade the State of 
Tennessee. Instead of allowing this movement to interfere 
with his plans, Sherman sent General Thomas back to Nash- 
ville with orders to collect the scattered detachments of 
troops wherever stationed within the Department, and with 
them take care of Hood. Under these orders Thomas made 
urgent demands for the right wing of the 16fch corps, then in 
Missouri, to come to his assistance. General Smith, anxious 
to comply, marched his men with utmost speed to St. Louis, 
where they arrived destitute of clothing and equipments and 
were ordered to refit for another campaign as soon as 
possible. 

In reorganizing his army at Atlanta, General Sherman 
broke up the left wing of the 16th corps and transferred its 
two divisions to the 15th and 17th corps, and at the same 
time assigned some detached regiments of the 17th corps to 
the 16th. This gave General A. J. Smith command of entire 
16th corps, which he organized as three divisions. The 1st 
division, commanded by Brig. Gen. J. McArthur, retained its 
old number and organization. The other troops were orga- 
nized as 2d division. Brig. Gen. Gerrard, commanding, and 



SA TTL E OF NASH VI L L E 191 

3d division, Col. Moore, commanding. With his command 
thus reorganized and refitted for service General Smith hur- 
ried his troops toward Nashville as fast as transportation 
could be furnished. 

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1864, the 12th Iowa, Lt. 
Col. Stibbs commanding, left Benton Barracks, marched to 
the city and embarked on Steamer Silver Cloud. While the 
men were preparing to take their dinner of hard tack, the 
Christian Commission, in recognition of the day, sent on 
board the boat several barrels of apples, some canned fruits 
and jellies, and distributed these supplies freely among the 
men. These acceptable additions, to what would have been 
a dry dinner, w^ere appreciated by the boys and made them 
truly thankful to the good people, who had thus, a second 
time, proved that there were true and loyal hearts in St. 
Louis. The usual delay in moving large bodies of troops 
was experienced, and our boat did not leave the city until 
the 26th, but after getting started made a quick passage 
down the Mississippi, and up the Ohio to Smithland, Ky., 
where we arrived on the 28th. Here we were joined by the 
men who had been left in camp at Memphis. They had in 
charge all the camp and garrison equipage left by us when 
we were ordered to Arkansas months before. Receiving 
this stuff and the men in charge of it on board the boat, w^e 
proceeded up the Cumberland river, escorted by a gunboat. 
We arrived at Nashville on the moiming of December 1st, 
and learned of the fighting at Franklin the day before — Nov. 
30 — that our forces had retired ; that Hood was then march- 
ing upon Nashville, and that our arrival was none too soon to 
assist in the impending battle. We disembarked at once and 
hurried to the front where the 16th corps formed line of 
battle across the Hardin pike about three miles from the city 
and awaited the coming of the enemy. General Hood had 
crossed the Tennessee at Tuscumbia, about November 10th, 
and moved out towards Nashville. General Sherman, seeing 



192 r WELFTH REGIMEN T lO WA IN FA N TR Y. 

that Hood was well across the river, severed all communica- 
tion with the North, and, on the 12th, started on his "March 
to the Sea." General Thomas sent the 4th and 23d corps 
under General Schofield, to confront Hood and impede his 
march as much as possible without bringing on a general 
engagement. Schofield, following these instj'uctions, met 
Hood's advance but fell back before it until he reached 
Franklin on Harapeth river 18 miles from Nashville. While 
Schofield was preparing to cross this stream. Hood made a 
desperate attack — Nov. 30th — but was repulsed with heavy 
loss. Thomas, not desiring to risk another battle at Frank- 
lin, directed Schofield to fall back to Nashville. Schofield 
crossed the river during the night, and December 1st marched 
to Nashville closely followed by Hood and his army. 

When Gen. Thomas took command at Nashville he found 
under his command the 4th and 23d corps in Tennessee ; the 
16th corps in Missouri ; a small force of Wilson's cavalry ; de- 
tachments of convalescent soldiers belonging to Sherman's 
army, and a large force of employes of the Quartermaster's 
Dept. The employes and dismounted cavalry were organized 
under the Quartermaster General and put to work building 
fortifications just outside the city limits. Railroad guards 
and detachments that could be spared were brought in and 
placed under the command of General Steedman, and called 
in some reports Steedman's corps. The total force December 
1st, including the 16th corps, ofiicers and men, as shown by 
the reports, was 46,183. These were put in position upon 
the heights surrounding Nashville, about three miles from 
the city ; the 16th corps on the right ; the 4th corps in the 
center ; the 23d corps on the left — afterwards extended by 
part of Steedman's command to the river. The dismounted 
cavalry and employes, under command of Quartermaster 
General Donaldson, occupied the entrenchments nearer the 
city. The mounted cavalry, under General Wilson, was sent 



BATTLE OF NASH VI L L E 193 

to the north side of the river to watch the cavalry of the 
enemy. 

NashviUe, on the south side of the Cumberland river, 
was built upon irregular ground which rises in places into 
knobs two or three hundred feet high. The country in the 
vicinity of the city is mostly in cultivated fields, and was in 
1864 subdivided into small farms by heavy stone walls. 
Radiating from the center of the city like the spokes of a 
wheel are fine thoroughfares called pikes. The one running 
directly south is known as Granny White pike. East of this 
is Franklin pike, and then Nolensville pike. On the west is 
Hilsboro pike and farthest west Hardin pike. General Hood, 
following the retreating army ofSchofield, approached Nash- 
ville, Dec. 1st, by the Granny White and Franklin pikes with 
an army, organized into four corps, which were commanded 
by Generals S. D. Lee, A. P. Stewart, B. F. Cheatham and 
N. B. Forrest, and in numbers just about equal to that of 
Thomas in infantry, and superior to Thomas in cavalry. 
Discovering the Union army in line of battle, Hood deployed 
his force with Lee in the center across the Granny White 
pike ; Cheatham on the right across the Franklin pike ; 
Stewart on the left with one division, Loring's, in line with 
Lee facing north, the remainder of the corps facing nearly 
west and extending over a mile south behind the heavy 
double stone walls of Hillsboro pike. Forrest's cavalry and 
one brigade of infantry was deployed, across the Hardin 
pike, and to the river below the city. Artillery was dis- 
tributed along the line, and posted upon the prominent knobs, 
usually within the infantry line, but in some cases just 
outside. 

In positions thus taken, both armies proceeded to 
strengthen their front lines by barricades and such tempo- 
rary works as could be hastily constructed, and after slight 
skirmishing in getting the lines adjusted, settled down for a 
night's rest before commencing the engagement. 

The 12th Iowa went into line just to the right of the 



194 TWELP TH REGIMENT 10 IV A INEANTR Y 

Hardin pike, the regimental line extending from the pike to 
the Nashville and Northwestern railroad, near the Joe. Elli- 
son place. The line was no sooner formed than the boys 
fell to work, and soon converted an old rail fence into a tem- 
porary breastwork. There was little demonstration in our 
front, and the boys soon prepared their bivouac for the 
night, fully expecting that a general engagement would be- 
gin at daylight next morning. 

Hood, evidently made cautious by experience at Frank- 
lin, delayed the attack day after day, while both armies were 
busily engaged planting batteries, building redoubts, and 
strengthening their positions. An occasional compliment of 
a solid shot or shell passed across the space between the 
armies; small affairs between scouting parties, or an attack 
upon some of our outposts served to keep both armies 
excited and on the alert. 

General Thomas, becoming tired of this by-play, issued 
orders for a general attack upon Hood to commence at day- 
light, December 10th. A heavy rain and sleet fell on the 
9th, enveloping the whole country in a sheet of ice, which 
made it impossible for the army to move. 

Between the 1st and 10th of December, Thomas had been 
reinforced by detachments from railroad guards and other 
stations. Official returns of December 10th show his pres- 
ent for duty, officers and men, as follows: 4th corps, 
15,101; 23d corps, 10,277; 16th corps, 11,926; cavalry, 8,239; 
Steedman's corps, district of Etawah, Veteran Reserves and 
unassigned, 15,053. Total, 60,596. The detachments, over 
15,000, were stationed in inner works, and were not to be 
ordered out with attacking force. 

Consolidated returns of Hood's army, made the same 
day, December 10th, of all his forces except Forrest's cav- 
alry and four brigades of infantry that were operating with 
Forrest, show effective present, 36,434. The latest returns of 
Forrest's corps is 12,753, and the four brigades of infantry — 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE 195 

viz., Palmer's, French's, Sears' andCockrell's — is 4,400; mak- 
ing a total of Hood's army present. 53,591. Of this force there 
were reported sick and in arrest 2,108. This left the Con- 
federate army present for duty 51,483. 

On the 14th the weather moderated; a warm rain melted 
the ice and snow. Thomas at once renewed the order for 
attack to commence next morning. At a meeting of corps 
commanders it was arranged that the troops were to move 
out before daylight; that Smith's corps, after forming across 
the Hardin pike, should commence the attack by a left wheel 
of the whole corps, which, after dispersing the enemy's cav- 
alry, would attack the enemy's entrenched position along the 
Hillsboro pike. 

General Smith accepted with alacrity the assignment 
which would give his troops a position where they could 
press the fight, and before dawn on the 15th he had his corps 
in the position assigned. to it. 

In the camp of the 12th Iowa the men were awakened, 
without drum beat, before daylight. Breakfast was pre- 
pared and eaten, and as all were living in pup tents, with no 
baggage, except such as each man carried on his back, all 
were soon in line awaiting orders to march. As the compa- 
nies fell in that morning they found themselves in a very 
pecular situation. On the day we arrived at Nashville the 
mustering officer at the post informed the officers that a re- 
enlistment of a commissioned officer in veteran organizations 
was irregular, and that officers who had served three years 
might remuster or muster out. Under this ruling, all except 
five of the commissioned officers of the regiment mustered 
out. Those remaining were: Lieut. Col. J. H. Stibbs; Capt. 
S. G. Knee, Acting Major; Lieutenants O. T. Fuller, with 
Pioneer corps; D. W. Reed, Acting Adjutant; and H. C. 
Morehead, Quartermaster. This left the companies without 
a commissioned officer in the line. Notwithstanding this dis- 
advantage, the ranking sergeant of each company took com- 



196 



TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 



mand of his company, and brought it into place as promptly 
as ever. The regiment moved out along the Hardin pike, 
and took its place in the line. Company B, was sent out as 
skirmishers, and as soon as the fog, which had hidden the 
movement from the enemy, lifted, the line was ordered for- 
ward, and the grand left wheel of a corps in line of battle 
was commenced. 



BATTLEPf I1A5HVILLE-DEC. 15.1864. 




Smith's corps formed, with Gerrard's division on the 
left, connecting with the 4th corps; McArthur's division on 
the right and Moore's division in reserve. After the move- 
ment began, Wilson's cavalry formed on Smith's right flank 
and retained that position during the day. The 3d brigade, 
on the left of Mc Arthur's division, formed with 7th Minn, 
on the left; 12th Iowa on the right; the 33d Mo. and 35th 
Iowa in second line. In the forward movement McArthur's 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE 197 

division was first engaged with the enemy's cavalry, which 
was easily driven back. The movement continued, with 
skirmishing only, until after noon, when the division came 
into position parallel with, and within range of the enemy's 
line along the Hillsboro pike, where Walthall's and French's 
divisions were waiting behind double stone walls to receive 
it. The right of the division, assisted by Hatch's cavalry, 
captured two redoubts of the enemy — Nos. 4 and 5 — located 
on prominent knobs a little in advance of the main line. 
Hill's brigade arrived at a point abreast of another redoubt, 
mounting two guns and situated on the pike about 1,000 
yards south of the angle in the Confederate line. 

The advance of the 12th Iowa was over rolling ground 
obstructed by ditches and fences and swe.pt by the artillery 
of the enemy. All mounted officers, finding it impossible to 
follow the line, on their horses, had dismounted and were 
serving on foot. At about 4 P. M. the regiment reached the 
foot of the knob in front of redoubt No. 3 and was ordered 
to lie down while skirmishers were called in and the line 
adjusted for a charge. Col. Hill moved the 35th Iowa to the 
right of the 12th and directed that when the charge was 
sounded the colors of the 12th should be carried directly to 
the center of the redoubt, the other regiments taking dis- 
tance to the right and left so as not to crowd. Col. Stibbs 
directed his Adjutant to conduct the colors, as soon as the 
charge sounded, and to see that they were carried Into the 
redoubt. The orders had no more than been delivered to the 
end of the line when the bugle sounded the charge. Every 
man of the regiment sprang to his feet and without firing a 
shot dashed up the hill and directly into the redoubt. Some 
of the men were able to jump the ditch and climb up the 
earthwork, while others were obliged to go down into the 
ditch and be helped up the other side. As our men went 
over the works the enemy left their guns and fell back across 
the stone walls and manning the battery in redoubt No. 2 



198 TWELFTH REGIMEN! lOlVA INFANTRY 

poured vollies of grape into our ranks. The first discharge 
swept the top of the redoubt held by us, and killed Col. Hill 
who had just reached the works, and was directing further 
movements. Seeing the necessity of some action to take the 
men out of range of these guns, Adjutant Eeed commanded 
"forward,'" and retaining his position with the colors con- 
ducted them across the pike and over the two stone walls, 
driving the enemy away, then wheeling the left half of the 
regiment to the left charge into redoubt No. 2, capturing 
three guns and a number of prisoners. In this movement 
Col. Marshall, of 7th Minn., joined the left wing of the 12th 
with a part of his regiment, and the two detachments fol- 
lowed the retreating enemy about a quarter of a mile, cap- 
turing the caissons of the battery and some more prisoners. 
The right wing of the 12th went steadily forward from 
redoubt No. 3, over the stone walls, and pursued the enemy 
across the fields for some distance. By the death of Col. 
Hill, Col. W. R. Marshall of 7th Minn, succeeded to the com- 
mand of the 3d brigade. He was informed of Col. Hill's 
death, by Adjutant Reed, just as the parts of the 7th Minn, 
and 12th Iowa were storming the redoubt No. 2. The gallant 
Colonel's only reply, when told that he was brigade com- 
mander, was: " We can't stop to change commander's now. 
My orders are to be guided by movements of the 12th Iowa, 
and until that battery is silenced I will go where the 12th 
goes." Col. Marshall re-formed his brigade about midway be- 
tween the Hillsboro and Granny White pikes and bivouacked 
for the night. 

In the movements of the afternoon, which resulted in the 
capture of the redoubts and in breaking the Confederate line 
on Hillsboro pike. Hill's brigade crowded Gerrard's division 
out of the line and reached the angle of the Confederate line 
in advance of the 4th corps, which was approaching the 
angle at the same time from tlie north. After the detach- 
ments of 12th Iowa and 7th Minn, had captured redoubt No. 



BA TTL E OF NASH VILLE 199 

2, and were following the fleeing enemy some distance be- 
yond, Some of the 4th corps entered the redoubt from the 
north and claimed that they were the captors of the battery. 
The division commander, Col. Elliott, says: "As we ap- 
proached the eiiemy's works the front of the division became 
contracted because of its connection on the right with troops 
of General Smith. * * * The division advanced rapidly 
and entered the works of the enemy covering Hillsboro pike, 
simultaneously with troops of General Smith, capturing artil- 
lery, prisoners and a flag." This claim was disputed by 
General McArthur, but was adjusted by dividing the guns 
between the two divisions — three to each — though General 
McArthur says: "In consequence of the death of Col. Hill 
the guns and prisoners were not cared for, but were taken 
possession of by other troops, and the brigade did not get 
the credit it was entitled too." 

The operations of Smith's corps, during the day, were 
perfectly successful in every particular, and resulted in the 
rout of Hood's left wing. The work had been done almost 
entirely by McArthur's division. Of the 16 guns captured 
on the field that day, McArthur's division has offtcial credit 
for 11, and there is no possible doubt but that he was entitled 
to three more. The 3d brigade, by its brilliant charge upon, 
and capture of redoubt No. 3, followed by an immediate attack 
upon the stone walls and defeat of Walthall's division, con- 
tributed largely to the success of the division. The 12th 
Iowa was conspicuous in all the movements, and by initiating 
and leading the charge upon redoubt No. 2, added to its 
record the most notable achievement of the day. The death 
of the gallant Col. Hill, who fell at the moment of victory, is 
the subject of a full page illustration in Harper's Weekly of 
January 14, 1865. 

The Confederate left, as it was driven from the Hillsboro 
pike, retreated southeast and took a strong position about 
two miles to the rear, Coleman's brigade of French's 



200 



TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 



division occupied Shy's Hill. Walthall's division, behind a 
heavy stone wall, extended the line directly east to the 
Granny White pike, where it was joined by Loring's division, 
continuing the line towards Franklin pike. The very strong 
position on Shy's Hill was attacked about 5 P. M. by a 
division of the 23d corps that had been sent to Smith's right 
from the reserve. The attack was repulsed, and night put 
an end to the conflict. 



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Hood's left having been broken and driven from the field 
he made haste, during the night, to re-establish his line of 
battle at the position chosen by Stewart. Lee's corps was 
withdrawn and placed at Loring's right extending the line 
to Overton Hills. Cheatham's corps was transferred to the 
left and put in line running directly south from Shy's Hill, 
and at right angles with Walthall's division. This line was 
strongly entrenched behind stone walls, which were, in 



BATTLE OF NA SH VIL L E 201 

Loring's line at least, re-enforced by rails set outside the 
wall, one end in the ground, the other end projecting above 
the wall at an angle of about 45 degrees. This re- enforce- 
ment protected the wall and its defenders from our artillery 
fire, and made it very difficult for assaulting column to scale 
the wall when it was reached. 

On the morning of December 16, 1864, the Union army 
was in line east of, and parallel to, the Hillsboro pike. The 
23d corps on the right, its left opposite Shy's Hill. The 
16th corps in the center. The 4th corps on the left. At 
daybreak the advance was ordered and the movement began 
by a right wheel of the 4th and 16th corps, until the line was 
brought parallel with Hood's new line. As then formed, the 
23d corps faced east opposite Cheatham's corps. The 16th 
corps faced south opposite Stewart's corps. The 4th corps 
also facing south opposite Lee's corps. The 1st brigade of 
McArthur's division was on the right, in front of Shy's Hill, 
the 2d brigade on the right and the 3d brigade on the left of 
the Granny White pike. The 12th Iowa on the right of its 
brigade, between Mrs. Bradford's house and the pike, was 
partially sheltered by a half stone wall. These positions 
were gained with little opposition, except artillery fire, and 
at about noon the two armies were facing each other within 
easy range. Batteries were stationed on commanding knobs 
and kept up a continuous duel with the guns of the enemy. 
At about 3 o'clock the 4th corps made an attack upon the 
Confederate position on Overton Hills and was repulsed with 
heavy loss after an engagement of half an hour. McArthur 
then asked permission to make an attack with his division 
and proposed to move his first brigade to the right, in front 
of the left of the 23d corps, where the hillside gave most 
protection, and make an attack upon Shy's Hill, which was 
the strongest point in the enemy's line and the key to his 
position. McArthur accompnied his request with the state- 
ment: "Unless orders are received to the contrary, I shall 



202 TWELFTH REG TMENT 10 IV A IN FA NTRY 

understand that I have the permission and shall act accord- 
ingly." General Smith referred the request to general 
Thomas for approval. Thomas doubted Mc Arthur's ability 
to carry the hill and went to consult with Schofield. Receiv- 
ing no reply to his request, McArthur took it for granted 
that his plan was approved and ordered McMillan to 
move his brigade to the right, into a slight ravine in front 
of Couch's division, and, when the charge was sounded, to 
move directly up the hill against the enemy. He sent 
orders to his 2d and 3d brigades to observe the movements 
of the 1st brigade and when that was half way up the hill to 
advance immediately and attack the enemy in their front. 
The attack was made with great spirit. McMillan's men 
swept up Shy's hill and drove the enemy out. Hubbard's 
brigade, moving across a level field, met a more stubborn 
resistance and suffered more severely, but was equally suc- 
cessfull in its chaage. The 3d brigade charged across an 
open field, straight upon a four gun battery. It captured 
the entire battery and many of its support, and pursued the 
broken ranks of the enemy to the hills in rear of his line, 
capturing many prisoners. McArthur's attack was en- 
tirely successful. It broke the enemy's line at the an- 
gle, and from left and right the Confederates fled from 
their positions in wild confusion and rout. Some regiments 
held on to the last and surrendered in form, but most of 
them broke their organizations, threw away their arms and 
fled. Among those captured by McArthur's division were 
Generals Johnson, Smith and Jackson, with about 3,000 
oificers and men of their commands. The impartial histor- 
ian who reads the records carefully and studies the reports 
on both sides, cannot fail to discover that to Brig. Gen. Mc- 
Arthur should be given the credit of the final success of the 
battle of Nashville. His troops did the fighting both days. 
His plan on the second day, successfully carried out by his 
men, caused the rout of the enemy. The loss in the division 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE 203 

was: 1st brigade, 118; 2d brigade, 315; 3d brigade, 145. 
Total, 578. The loss in the 16th corps was 750. 

The action of ihe 12th Iowa during the entire battle was 
highly commended by brigade and division commanders. 
The men responded gallantly and with enthusiam to every 
order given, and seemed to be determined to show that a 
lack of officers should make no difference in the efficiency of 
companies. 

It was noted by officers present that the men never 
charged more heroically; never kept their ranks more per- 
fectly closed up and were never more elated over their 
splendid success. The only effort needed by the officers was 
to curb enthusiasm and keep the more fleet ones from getting 
too far ahead of the colors. This spirit of enthusiasm seemed 
to possess all the men of the 16th corps. They knew the gallant 
record of comrades of the 4th and 23d corps, and had been 
told by them: "You fellows think you have done some pretty 
good fighting, but wait until you meet Hood's veterans and 
you will think you never saw fighting before." The boys 
waited, and on the loth, under the eye of General Thomas, 
swept the left of Hood's veteran army off the field. And next 
day with one brigade, captured the enemy's strongest posi- 
tion from the very front of a division of the 28d corp, and 
with two brigades swept across an open field; drove the 
enemy from a strong position and captured a force equal to 
their own. This, too, after a failure of the 4th corp to cap- 
ture a like position. 

It is said that General Thomas, sitting on his horse and 
observing the charge of McArthur's division, said to General 
Smith in a nervous way as if fearing a repulse: "Your men 
go with too much of a rush. General, you should keep the 
column steadier." "You will see that they get there just 
the same," was "Greybeard's'' only reply. 

Night was falling when the victory was completely won. 
A drenching rain set in to add to the darkness and conf u- 



204 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

sion, and to render pursuit of the enemy impossible. Under 
cover of the darkness Hood's routed army fled with scarcely 
a semblance of organization until it had crossed the Harpeth 
river. Here the bridge was burned and sufficient number of 
regiments re-organized for a rear guard and the army con- 
tinued its retreat. 

General Thomas ordered the 4th corps to pursue the 
enemy along the Franklin pike; the cavalry along Granny 
White pike, and directed Smith and Schofield to collect 
abandoned property and prisoners, and then follow in the 
pursuit, 

Saturday morning, December 17th, a detail of 200 men 
was made from the 12th Iowa to guard prisoners and con- 
duct them to Nashville. This detail, under the command of 
Adjutant Reed escorted about one thousand prisoners to the 
Provost Marshal's office in Nashville, received receipts for. 
the same and rejoined the regiment early on morning of 18th. 
The total number of prisoners receipted for to McArthur's 
division was 3,109. 

The official reports of the battle of Nashville are as 
follows : 

"Headquarters 12th Iowa Vet. Vol. Infantry, ) 
Near Pulaski, Tenn., Dec. 28, 1864. \ 

Henry Hoover, y?. ^. .^4. 6"., 3d Brigade, ist Division, Detachment 
Army of th^ Tennessee: 

Lieutenant : I have the honor to make the following reuort of the 
part taken by the 12th Iowa Veteran Infantry during the actions of the 
15th and 16th of December, 1864, near Nashville, Tenn. 

In accordance with instructions from your headquarters, I had my 
men under arms at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, and soon after 
moved outside our line of works, and formed line to the right of the Hard- 
ing pike. We threw forward a heavy line of skirmishers, and awaited 
the forming of the general line. At about 10 o'clock, the order to 
advance being given, our skirmishers pushed rapidly forward and found 
a considerable force of the enemy, who were easily driven back. Our 
main line advanced steadily and without opposition, constantly changing 
our point of direction towards the left, until we had advanced two miles. 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE 205 

when, cominff on to the crest of a hill, we were opened on by one of the 
enemy's batteries, posted directly in our front and distant about a thous- 
and yards. Our men were then ordered to lie down, and our brigade bat- 
tery brought forward and opened Are on the enemy. We were held in 
this position for about an hour and a half; the enemy keeping up a con- 
stant fire on our line, doing us but little damage. 

We were then moved forward, swinging our line to the left, and con- 
forming to the line on our right. After advancing about half a mile, we 
came upon a strong redoubt of the enemy, situated to the right of the 
Hillsboro pike, and just live miles from Nashville; our line was pushed 
well forward, and shortly before 4 o'clock, P. M., everything being ready, 
we were ordered to charge. 

Our men moved rapidly up the hill, but, before gaining the crest, the 
enemy moved their guns and most of their support to a fort about three 
hundred yards in the rear, from which they gave us a heavy raking fire 
as we moved upon and over the first work. On gaining the first work, 
our brigade commander. Col. S. G. Hill, .35th Iowa, was shot through 
the head, and instantly killed. Our brigade line being in considerable 
disorder, I ordered the command halted, and lines re-formed, which 
order was promptly complied with, our men in the meantime keeping up 
a heavy fire on the enemy in our front. On gaining the crest of the first 
hill. Col. Marshall, of the 7th Minnesota, and Lieut. Reed, acting Adjutant 
12th Iowa, with about two hundred men of the two regiments, being 
in advance, pushed rapidly forward, obliquing to the left, and captured 
the second work, with a large number of prisoners, three or four guns, 
several ammunition wagons, and a large number of small arms. 

The balance of the brigade, as soon as formed, moved forward, but, 
night coming on, we were compelled to halt. Col. Marshall, 7th Min- 
nesota, assumed command of the brigade, and having properly re-formed 
our lines, ordered us to bivouac for the night. It is impossible to give an 
exact estimate of jjrisoners, and property captured in this charge, as all 
were so anxious to pursue the enemy that prisoners and captured prop • 
erty were given over to or taken possession of by other commands that 
came up in our rear. The loss of my regiment, in this day's fight, was 
seven men wounded. 

On the morning of the 16th, we were called up before daylight, and 
moved by the flank half a mile to the right, taking position on and join- 
ing the left of the 2d brigade of our division, my regiment forming the 
right of our brigade line. About 8 o'clock, our skirmishers having 
driven the enemy in front back to their works, we were ordered to move 
forward, and advanced on the double-quick for about half a mile, rapidly 
swinging our line and changing our direction to the right, until we had 



206 TWELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INEANTR Y 

arrived within short musket range of the enemy's works, when we were 
ordered to halt. During the advance, the enemy opened on us heavily 
with artillery, but owing to our rapid movement, and their inaccurate 
aim, we suffered but little. After a ten minutes' rest, we were order'ed 
to close to the right and double our lines. The brigade on our right 
having doubled and left an interval in the line, I moved by the flank and 
closed on them, forming my line with the ri^ht resting on the Granny 
White pike; the 7th Minnesota formed on my left, and the other I'egi- 
ments of the brigade, 33d Missouri and 35th Iowa, formed a second line in 
our rear. Our front was covered by a stone wall and a heavy rail fence, 
which we threw down and formed into a slight breastwork. We were 
kept in this position during the greater part of the day. The enemy, in 
the meantime, kept up a troublesome musketry fire on our line, but by 
keeping close to our work, we suffered but little damage. Co. C. of 
my regiment, detailed as sharpshooters, kept up a vigorous fire on the 
enemy, and during the day rendered excellent service. About 3 o'clock, 
P. M., I was ordered to throw up an earthwork in my front, and procured 
tools, and had my work half completed, when, at about 4 o'clock, a charge 
was commenced by the right of our division. I at once ordered my men 
to cease work and prepare for a charge, and a moment afterwards, being 
told that we were ordered to advance, I gave the command, Forward. 
The ground in our front was such that we passed one-third the distance 
bsfore we were fairly under fire, and after that our movement was so 
rapid that the enemy could give us but two or three volleys before 
we were at their works. The work was a heavy stone wall, with a ditch 
on the inner side, and the outer face strengthened with earth and rails, 
so that it was almost impossible to scale it Had the enemy made a deter- 
mined stand, they might have inflicted very serious injui-y on us before 
losing their works; but their line having been broken on the left, and 
our advance being so rapid and determined, they were thrown into a panic 
and fled from their works in confusion, leaving their colors guns, cais- 
sons, and hundreds of prisoners in our hands. 

After the works had been taken, I moved my regiment rapidly for- 
ward for about half a mile, when I was ordered to the rear to pick up 
prisoners and captured property. In this charge, as on the previous day, 
it was impossible to get a list of what we had captured. Larg-e numbers 
of prisoners were taken by our men, driven to the rear, and there taken 
charge of by officers of other commands. I collected about two hundred 
prisoners, and sent them, under charge of my own men, to Nashville. 
On going to the rear, I found, on the line of works charged by our brigade, 
four 12-pound Napoleon guns, with caissons complete, one army wagon, 
and about four or five hundred stand of small arms, all of which I col- 



BA TTL E OF NASH VI L L E 20*7 

lected and turned ovei' to a pi-oper offlcer; after which I moved my regi- 
ment to the front and bivouacked for the night. My loss in this day's 
fight, was one man killed, and eleven wounded. During the charge on 
this day, there were four flags captured by men of my regiment, but two 
of them, captured by Privates Samuel H. Flint, Co. D, and Michael 
Wivinas, Co. I, were afterwai^ds thrown down by them in oi'der that they 
might continue th pursuit of the enemy. I still have in my possession 
two flags, one a large regimental flag captured by Corporal Luther P. 
Kaltenbach, Co. F, and a battery flag, captured by Private A. J. Sloan, 
Co. H. 

I take great pleasure in mentioning Capt. S. G. Knee, Co. H, Act'g 
Major, Lieut. D. W. Reed, Co. C, Acting Adjutant, and Lieut. H. C. 
Morehead, Co D, Acting Quartermaster, for their valuable services 
rendered on the field. Assistant Surgeon Underwood stood faithfully to 
his post, and dressed the wounds of our men, where the fire was the hot- 
test. Chaplain Humphrey rendered invaluable service, in caring for our 
wounded on the field and in the hospitals. Serg't Major Burch, and 
Color Sergeants Grannis and Clark, displayed skill and courage in the 
performance of their duties. I desire to call your esjiecial attention to 
the fact that, during the two days' fight, my regiment was almost 
entirely unofficered, all the line officers of my regiment, except four, 
having been mustered out of service on the 1st inst., and all my com- 
panies being commanded by Sergeants. 

All did their duty nobly, and are deserving of an especial mention, 
but to mention particularly deserving ones, I would have to name all, as 
every man of the regiment did his whole duty. 

1 transmit herewith a list of the casualties in my regiment during 
the two days' fight as follows: 

December loth. WOUNDED— Edwin W. Wood and Stephen Wood, Co. 
B, severely: Isadore L. Jordan, Co. C, arm, severely; 
Benjamin Delezene, Co C, arm and side, severely; Jas. 
Lanagan, Co. D, leg, severely; W. Doleshal, Co. D, 
side, slightly; Corporal .Joseph Eldridge, Co. P, head, 
slightly; Peter Larson, Co. G, foot, slightly. 

December lOth. KILLED — James Loring, Co. F. 

WOUNDED-Curtis Tap, Co. A, foot, slightly; Knud 
Iverson, Co. B, hand, slightly; David Conner, Co. C, thigh, 
severely; George A. Burroughs, Co. C, shoulder, slightly; 
James D Fearner, Co. D, side, slightly: Russell H. Peasley, 
Co. F, head, slightly: Ole Tande Hanson, Co. G, abdomen. 



208 7 WELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

slightly; Gustave Helgerson, Co. G, side, mortally; Wm. 
Cock, Co. H, thig-h, severely; Edward Wells, Co. 1, knee, 
severely, amputated; Michael McDermott, Co. I, hand, 
slightly. 

Very respectfully yours, 

Jno. H. Stibbs, 
Lieut. Col. Commanding 12th Iowa Infantry. 

Account by Chaplain Humphrey: 

* * * About 11 o'clock the long columns of Schofield's corps 
rapidly came from the left, and, moving down the Hardin pike, formed 
their lines of battle at the left of the pike, and moved up to the rear of 
Smith's corps, which was obliqued and mov.ed a little to the left, so that 
the whole of McArthur's division was now on the left of the Hardin 
pike. As I stood on the highest bluff in the line of our fortifications 
and saw the lines of battle formed by the 16th and 2,3d corps on the 
smooth, open plain below, and then saw them deploy with regimental 
banners, battle flags and national colors unfurled, and advance with 
measured step, I could see neither the pomp or pageantry of which we 
read in books. AH was simple, yet grand. There was no nodding 
plumes; no tawdry uniforms bespangled with stars of gold; no richly 
caprisoned chargers. But there were men, earnest men- men who knew 
their duty to God and country, and clothed in simple blue, soiled by 
fatigue, yet the symbol of fidelity, and armed with sword, musket and 
rifled artillery — were going into the field to do their duty, a sublime ex- 
hibition of the nation's power. 

For the past two hours the irregular rattling fire of skirmishers 
has crashed along the line just in front of our advancing columns. But 
now the heavy bass tones of artillery join the tenor of musketry. 
Smith's corps is gradually wheeling to the left and bending back the 
rebel left wing. They obstinately dispute the advance of our lines. As 
we api^roach their detached intrenchments, new batteries from powerful 
redoubts open upon our troops. Now along a line of two miles I can see 
the flashes from the guns and exploding shells of eight batteries; four 
rebel and four loyal. More than forty guns make the earth quake with 
their thunder, and hurl the shrieking shells, bursting beyond, above, 
and among hostile battalions. Our troops falter not; but press on, now 
lying down to let the missiles of death pass over them; now crouching, 
advancing; then upright and double-quicking across an exposed field: 
then lying quiet behind a wood, wall, or elevated ridge. Now the bat- 
teries concentrated a cross-fire upon a rebel redoubt, and Hubbard's and 



BA TTL E OF NASH VILLE 209 

McMillan's brigades charge up the hill and enter the works. The reb- 
els fly to a second redoubt two hundred yards above. The captured guns 
are turned upon the upper redoubts, while the shells from that came 
down like hail upon our men in the first. Must our men retreat from or 
die in the hostile trenches? No; a line of musketry smoke sweeps up 
the hill, concealing the storming pai'ty from our sight, but telling us 
that our heroes are charging that redoubt, too. A few moments, and 
the stars and stripes float above the ramparts of the second redoubt. 
Meantime Hill's men, who had borne the brunt of the battle of Tupelo, 
and had witnessed the splendid charge of their comrades, were eager to 
emulate their heroism and storm the formidable redoubts far in their 
front. As the corps continues wheeling to the left, an opportunity is 
soon presented to gratify their demands. About six hundred yards in 
advance of the brigade, near the Hillsboro pike, on a high and bastion- 
like ridge, is another redoubt, whose i^ebel Napoleons redouble their fire 
and seem striving to make good the loss of the two first redoubts, and 
hurl back our advancing columns. Shot and the fragments of shell fill 
the air. The roar of artillery, like Niagara's, is incessant, and the 
flashes of exploding shells follow each other like the vivid flashes of 
lightning. An officer of another brigade said to me: "Those guns are 
more annoying to our line than any other rebel battery." The guns 
must be silenced and the redoubt captured without delay. Colonel Hill 
saw that it could only be carried by direct assault in front, and immedi- 
ately ordered a charge. The boys welcomed the order with a battle 
cheer, fixed bayonets, and under a terrific fire of shot, minnie balls and 
bursting shell, with uniform step and steady column, they descend a 
gentle slope, cross a ravine, and, on the double-quick move, up the hill 
and into the enemy's works. Sergeants Grannis and Clark, of the 12th 
Iowa, in advance of the charging line, first plant the regimental colors 
upon the rebel battlement. The brave Colonel Hill, mounted on hox'se- 
back and gallantly leading his brigade, fell from his horse, shot through 
the head, just as his troops were carrying the breastworks of the enemy. 
The enemy had hastily limbered up the guns of the fort, withdrawn to a 
redoubt about 300 yards, and again opened with grape, canister and 
musketry upon our men just as they entered the first redoubt. Contin- 
uing to advance, the brigade charged across Hillsboro pike, up to the 
second redoubt, captured its guns, caissons, horses, one headquarters 
and thirteen baggage wagons and 250 prisoners. Colonel Marshall, not 
stopping to look after captured property, nor even to receive the swords 
presented to him by rebel officers, and Adjutant Reed, of the 12th Iowa, 
with about 100 men, had not stopped in the second redoubt, but pressed 
on after the flying fugitives to the third redoubt in front of the 4th 



210 TWEL Fl H REGIMENT 10 IV A INF ANTE Y 

coi'p?. Adjutant Reed entered it from the rear with a few men of the 
Twelfth just as those of the 4th corps came over the works from the 
front. * * * 

The morning of the 16th opened clear and bright. At 8 o'clock 
artillery gradually opened along the lines. Smith corps wheeled to the 
right, bringing McArthur's division, within easy range of the rebel 
center. • * * 

When McArthur's division moved against the advanced and power- 
ful lines of the enemy, the artillery volleyed its thunderbolts of death 
and the musketry poured an avalanche of leaden hail into our double 
line of battle. Amidst the thunder of batteries which shook the earth 
for miles around and the tremendous roar of musketry, such as veterans 
of our hottest battles had never heard before, these three devoted bri- 
gades moved into the "jaws of death, into the mouth of hell." It does 
seem that the division must recoil, retreat, or sink to the earth beneath 
the weight of metal shot through its ranks. No; their columns neither 
fall back, nor waver, nor go down; but on, on they go, a double row of 
iron hearts: McMillan's brigade up the steep hill, Hubbard and Mar- 
shall's over the soft, open, unobstructed field, enfiladed by two batteries 
from the right and swept by another a few rods in front, and by minnie 
balls from the enemy's double line of battle. Now our men almost touch 
the muzzles of hostile guns, when all up that long line one more sheet of 
lightning flashes death to the dauntless hearts of our heroes, and then 
they scale the fiery wall, and the death-dealing batteries and muskets 
and the veteran rebels of Stewart's corps are the prisoners of brave 
McArthur's brave men. 

The awful reverberations roll oft' and die away in the distance. 
Long columns of captives are disarmed and marched to the rear. A 
hundred thousand hearts beat easier as they realized that the charge was 
successful. On the field men who had been at Donelson, Shiloh and 
Vicksburg said: "It is the greatest charge of the war. " Different 
men, so stationed as to see only the operations of one brigade, awai'd the 
highest praise, each, to the brigade whose charge they had witnessed; 
one to Marshall's, another to Hubbard's, a third to McMillan's. I can 
make no distinction. They won the title of "bravest of the brave." 
History will place their charge beside that of Napoleon's Old Guard. Its 
fruits were a broken rebel center, nearly .3,000 prisoners with their arms, 
16 pieces of artillery, two Brigadiers, Smith and Jackson, and one Major 
General, Johnson. 



BA TTL E OF NASH I 'ILL E 211 

Colonel Marshall's report: 

Headquarters 3d Brig., IstDiv.. 16th A. C, \ 
Near Pulaski, TENN.,Dec. 28, 1864. S 

Capiain W. H. F. Randall, A. A. C, ist Div., i6th A. C: 

Captain: I have the honor to report the following as the part 
taken by this command in the battle before Nashville on the 15th and 
16th instant: 

In obedience to orders from commander of division, the 3d brigade, 
composed of 12th Iowa, 7th Minnesota, 33d Missouri and 35th Iowa In- 
fantry, and Battery I, 2d Missouri Artillery, moved from behind in- 
trenchments before Nashville at 7 A. M., 15th inst., and formed line of 
battle with left of brigade resting on the Hardin pike. Two companies 
were ordered forward as skirmishers, and at 10 A. M. the line advanced 
towards the enemy's position, crossing the Hardin pike obliquely to 
the left, conforming to the movements of the general line on our right 
and left. Our skirmishers, pushing rapidly forward, were soon briskly 
engaged with those of the enemy. Driving the latter back, about 12 M., 
we arrived in front of formidable works on the enemy's left, and were 
exposed to a heavy artillery fire from the same. Captain Julian's bat- 
tery was ordered into position, and opened promptly a impid and effective 
fire on the enemy's works. The cannonading was kept up on both sides 
for more than an hour. The enemy's guns pouring a heavy fii'e into the 
exposed men of our battery, the infantry was ordered to lie down, to 
lessen their exposure. About 2 P. M. the right of our division (the 1st 
and 2d brigades, with Hatch's dismounted cavalry co-operating) assaulted 
and captured the fort at the enemy's left. 

During the time the enemy's extreme left was being turned, the 3d 
brigade was exposed to a partially enfilading fire from a fort immediately 
on the right of the Hillsboro pike, and nearly in front of our left. Tliis 
fort was on elevated ground, giving its guns great I'ange. Soon the 3d 
brigade moved to the left and advanced over open and exposed ground 
to a brook valley at the foot of the hill on which the fort was situated, 
and advanced to near three hundred yards distance from the fort, and 
lay down. The battery was advanced to the ridge in rear of the infantry, 
and at short range poured a terrific fire into the fort, that in due time 
almost silenced the enemy's artillery. Our skirmishers, from such cover 
as they could get, kept up a constant fii'e wherever the enemy were 
exposed. It was nearly 4 P. M., when the brigade was ordered to 
assault the fort. With a shout the men arose from the ground, ascended 
the hill in the face of a storm of missiles, and captured the fort, not, 
however, without paying dearly for it in the loss of the noble, good 



212 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

and gallant Colonel Hill, who fell just as we gained the parapet of the 
fort, by a musket ball through the head. I now took command of the 
brigade. 

The enemy had withdrawn their artillery from the fort before we 
had reached it. We captured about fifty prisoners in the fort. When 
there we found ourselves exposed to a destructive fire from a second work 
of the enemy, about two hundred yards to the left of the Hillsboro pike, 
and a continuation of the detached works that constituted the main line 
of the enemy's fortifications. Scarcely halting in this first fort, that 
part of the brigade which was on the left, quickly advanced to the second 
fort, and, charging it, carried the work, capturing one gun, caisson 
battery wagon, horses, and other property, and pressing on after the 
retreating enemy, captured two more guns, and about one hundred 
prisoners. 

Just beyond the second fort, my line came in rear of the enemy's 
line of works just at the time the 4th corps was charging them in front. 
The withering fire that the 3d brigade poured into the enemy's rear con- 
tributed to the success of the 4th corps. Indeed, at this time our fire 
killed more of the enemy than at any other time during the day. I fol- 
lowed up the enemy until I found myself considerably in advance of the 
troops on my right and left, when I fell back even with the general line, 
and received orders to bivouac for the night. 

At 8 A. M., 16th, the brigade was ordered forward in line of battle 
toward the Granny White pike, conformably to a general movement on 
the right and left. Our skirmishers were soon engaged. We were 
wheeled rapidly to the right, bringing the line ^perpendicular to the 
Granny Whita pike. Captain .Julian's battery took position on the left 
of the pike, about three hundred yards in the rear of the Bradford man- 
sion. The enemy was found in force and strongly fortified. As we ad- 
vanced the enemy opened with musketry and artillery upon us. 

We halted in this jilace until 4 P. M., when I observed a movement 
on the right of the division, indicating that an assault on the enemy's 
works was intended. It was soon apparent that the 1st brigade was 
charging the high hill directly in its front. When the movement was 
fairly begun, I saw the 2d brigade move to the assault. Although I had 
no orders to charge, I saw that Colonel Hubbard ought to be supported, 
and I ordered the 3d brigade to rise and charge forward. A terrific fire 
of grape, canistry, shells and musketry greeted us; but with unsurpassed 
bravei\y and persistence our line carried the enemy's works. By the 
nature of the echelon movement, the brigades entered the works in the 
order of numbers from the right. Athough the 3d brigade was the last 
in gaining the enemy's works, it was not less exposed, having to meet 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE 213 

the fire from a four-gun battery. As the brigade passed over the works, 
the gallant 2d brigade was seen sweeping down on the right. It claimed 
a share in the capture of the battery, and. although there could be no 
doubt that the 3d brigade first entered the works on the left, I was not 
disposed to insist on our claim: and in view of the fact that the 2d bri- 
gade gained the right of the pike before I did on the left, and would 
have been able, by a flank movement, to carry the works I cap- 
tured, I conceded two of the guns to him. We captured five guns, two 
battle flags, and four hundred prisoners, and an equal numljer of small 
arms. We pursued nearly a mile to the foot of the mountains, capturing 
prisoners until dark, when we were ordered into line and bivouacked for 
the night. 

I desire to call attention to the unusual circumstance of the 12th 
Iowa going into and through the fight without line officers. The regi- 
ment, however, under command of Lt. Col. Stibbs and Captain Knee, 
Acting Major, and Adjutant D W. Reed, did its duty as gallantly as if its 
full complement of officers were present. 

To recapitulate, the following captures were made by the brigade: 
Five guns, 5 caissons, 2 battle flags, and 500 prisoners. Many more 
prisoners were actually captured by the 3d brigade, but were taken to 
the rear by, and credited to, other troops. 

Respectfully, 

W. R. MARSHAL!., 

Col. 7th Minn., Commdg. Brigade. 

Report of General McArthur, commanding 1st division, 
16th A. C: 

* * * My division being on the flank, the whole swinging to our 
left as a pivot, our march was necessarily long and tiresome. 

After crosing the Hardin road the 1st brigade encountered the first 
redoubt of four guns on the enemy's extreme left. * * (Redoubts 4 
and 5 were captured by 1st and 2d brigades. ) While this was going on 
the 3d brigade captured a redoubt commanding the Hillsboro pike and 
carried it in gallant style, but passing on, the guns, together with a 
number of prisoners were taken in possession by the 4th corps, which 
might have been properly credited had not Colonel Hill, commanding 
the brigade, been killed in the charge. For further evidence I refer to 
Brig. Gen. Garrard, commanding 2nd division. * * * 

On the morning of the 16th I moved the division forward by 
wheeling to the right, forming at right angles to the position held the 
night previous— with the Granny White pike running through between 
the 2nd and 3rd brigades— and moved up, at 9 A. M., to within charging 



V 



214 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

distance of the enemy's main line of works, but finding- no disposition by 
the corps on my right to co-operate with me I ordered the command to 
construct rifle pits to protect themselves from the infantry fire of the 
enemy's main line. 

Continuing in this position until 3 o'clock, when again consulting 
with General Couch, commanding division on my right, and being 
informed that he had no orders to advance, and fearing that if delayed 
until next day the night would be emjjloyed bv the enemy to our disad- 
vantage, I determined to attack. Sending word to this effect to the 
Major General commanding the corps, and no contrary orders being 
received, I prepared for the assault. In order to do so successfully it 
was necessary that the hill on the enemy's extreme left, and immedi- 
ately in front of the 23d corps, should be taken first. I therefore ordered 
the 1st brig'ade to move by the right flank and take position in front of 
the hill, and then move forward and take the hill. The 2d and 3d 
brigades having orders to charge as soon as the 1st brigade had advanced 
half way up the hill, which was the salient point in the enemy's position. 
The 1st brigade with fixed bayonets, without a cheer or firing a shot, but 
with a firm resolve and without doubting their success, commenced the 
difficult ascent, and without a halt, although exposed to a murderous fire, 
which none but the bravest could withstand, planted their colors upon 
the very apex of the hill. At the appointed time the 2d and 3rd brigades 
moved forward on the enemy's works. Their path lay across a corn field 
traversed by stone walls and ditches which, together with the softness of 
the grovmd ; exposed as they were to a direct fire in front and enfiladed 
by batteries on the flanks, for a time held with intense interest the most 
experienced officers who beheld it ; but onward was their motto, and 
their banners were soon planted on the works that had been defended 
by the choicest troops of the rebel army, calling forth the remark of the 
rebel officers, that powder and lead were inadequate to resist such a 
charge. On the division pressed gathering in prisoners by the hundreds 
and guns by batteries, until the hills in rear of the enemy's line were 
secured, when the line was formed for the night and attention turned to 
the many brave officers and men who had so gloriously maintained their 
country's honor and sealed it with their blood. * * * 

I am greatly indebted to the following members of my stafl" for valu- 
able services througout. * * * Dr. S. W. Huft', surgeon in chief. * * * 

I wish particularly to mention the gallant conduct of Col. W. R. 
Marshall, 7th Minn., commanding 3d brigade. Called to take command 
during the first day's battle and continuing throughout. His admirable 
management and example stamp him as an officer of rare merit. 

J. McArthur, Brig. Gen. 



BA TTL E OF NASH VIL L E 215 

Report of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith, commanding 16th 
A. C: 

* * * A small earthwork on a hill in front of Colonel Hill's bri- 
gade of McArthur's division was carried by that brigade in gallant style, 
capturing the guns and many prisoners. On entering the work Col. S. 
G. Hill, commanding 3d brigade, 1st division, was struck in the forehead 
by a musket ball and died almost instantly. In consequence, the guns 
and prisoners were not properly cared for and turned over, but were 
taken possession of by other troops, and the brigade did not get the 
credit which it justly deserved. * * * 

On the morning of the 16th, advancing my lines in the same order 
as on the previous day. * * * About 3 o'clock General McArthur 
sent word that he coukl carry the hill on his right by assault. Major 
General Thomas being present, the matter was referred to him, and I 
was requested to delay the movement until he could hear from General 
Schotield, to whom he had sent. General McArthur, not receiving a 
reply, and fearing that if the attack should be longer delayed, the enemy 
would use the night to strengthen his works, directed the 1st brigade to 
storm the hill, on which was the left of the enemy's line, and the 2d and 
3d brigades of that division to attack in front when the 1st brigade was 
half way up the hill. Accordingly Colonel McMillan formed his brigade 
in two lines, and gave his men orders not to cheer or fire a shot until the 
works should be gained, he commenced his. ascent. He had no sooner 
commenced his movement than the 2d brigade took up the attack, imme- 
diately followed by the 3d brigade. 

The enemy opened ^with a fierce storm of shell, canister and mus- 
ketry, sadly decimating the ranks of many regiments, but nothing save 
annihilation could stop the onward progress of that line. Sweeping for- 
ward the right of the line up the hill and the left through the mud and 
over walls,'' they gained the enemy's works, calling forth the remark 
from one of their general officers that "powder and lead were inadequate 
to resist such a charge." The enemy was whipped, broken and demoral- 
ized. Prisoners were taken by the regiment and artillery by batteries. 

In this one charge the two divisions (1st and 2d) captured 27 pieces 
of artillery complete, over 4,000 prisoners, among whom were Major 
General Johnson, Brigadier Generals Jackson and Smith, and 12 stands 
of colors. * * * 

A. J. Smith, Maj. Gen. 

General Thomas commanding the Army: 

* * * " Both armies were ice bound for a week previous to the 
14th December, when the weather moderated. Being prepared to move. 



216 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

I called a meeting of the corps commanders on theafternoon of that day, 
and having discussed the plan of attack until thoroughly understood, 
the following Special Field order, No. 342, was issued: 

Paragraph IV. As soon as the state of the weather will admit of 
offensive operations, the troops will move against the enemy's position 
in the following order: 

Major General A. .J. Smith commanding detachment of the Army 
of the Tennessee, after forming his troops on and near the Harding pike, 
Id front of his present position, will make a vigorous assault on the 
enemy's left. * * * 

On the morning of the 15th December, the weather being favorable, 
the army was formed and ready at an early hour to carry out the plan 
of battle promulgated in the Special Field Order of the 14th. The for- 
mation of the troops was partially concealed from the enemy by the 
broken nature of the ground, as also by a dense fog, which only lifted 
toward noon. The enemy was apparently totally unaware of any inten- 
tion on our part to attack his position, and more especially did he seem 
not to expect any movement against his left flank. To divert his atten- 
tion still further from our real intentions, Major Gen. Steedraan had, on 
the evening of the 14th, received orders to make a heavy demonstration 
with his command against the enemy's right, east of the Nolensville 
pike, which he accomplished with great success, and some loss, succeed- 
ing, however, in attracting the enemy's attention to that part of his line, 
and inducing him to draw re-inforcements from toward his centre and 
left. As soon as Gen. Steedman had completed his movement, the com- 
mands of Generals Smith and Wilson moved out along the Harding pike, 
and commenced the grand movement of the day by wheeling to the left 
and advancing against the enemy's position across the Harding and 
Hillsboro pikes. Gen. A. J. Smith's troops, first struck the enemy 
along Richland creek, near Harding's house, and drove him back rap- 
idly, capturing a number of prisoners, wagons, etc., and continuing to 
advance, while slightly swinging to the left, came upon a redoubt con- 
taining four guns, which was splendidly carried by assault at 1 P. M , 
and the captui-ed guns turned upon the enemy. A second redoubt, 
stronger than the first, wasne.x^t assailed and carried by the same troops 
that captui'ed the first position, taking four more guns and about three 
hundred prisoners. The infantry, McArthur's division of Gen. A. J. 
Smith's command, on the left of the cavalry, participated in both of the 
above assaults, and indeed the dismounted cavalry seemed to vie with 
the infantry who should first gain the works; as they reached the posi- 
tion nearly simultaneously, both lay claim to the artillery and prisoners 
captured. 

Finding General Smith ha4 not tak^a as much distance to the right 



BA TTL E OF NASH VI L LE 217 

as I expected he would have done, I directed General Schofield to move 
his command (the 23d corps) from the position in reserve to which it 
had been assigned, over to the right of General Smith, enabling the cav- 
alry thereby to operate more freely in the eaemy's rear. This was rap- 
idly accomplished by General Schofield, and his troops participated in 
the closing operations of the day. 

The total I'esult of the day's operations was the capture of 16 pieces 
of artillery and 1,200 prisoners, besides several hundred stands of small 
arms, and about forty wagons. The enemy had been forced back at all 
points with heavy loss, and our casualties were unusually light. The 
behavior of the troops was unsurpassed for steadiness and alacrity in 
every movement, and the original plan of battle, with but few altera- 
tions, was strictly adhered to. 

The whole command bivouacked in line of battle during the night 
on the ground occupied at dark, while preparations were made to renew 
the battle at an early hour on the morrow. 

At 6 A. M., on the 16th, Wood's corps pressed back the enemy's 
skirmishers across the Franklin pike, to the eastward of it, and then 
swinging slightly to the right, advanced due south, driving the enemy 
before him until he came upon his new main line of works, constructed 
during the night, on what is called Overton's Hill, about five miles south 
of the city and east of the Franklin pike. General A. J. Smith's com- 
mand moved on the right of the 4th corps (Woods) and establishing con- 
nection with General Wood's right, completed the new line of battle. 
Gen. Schofield 's troops remained in the position taken up by them at 
dark on the day previous, facing eastward and toward the enemy's left 
flank, the line of the corps running perpendicular to General Smith's 
troops. 

Our entire line approached to within six hundred yards of the en- 
emy's at all points. 

About 3 P. M., Post's brigade of Wood's corps, supported by 
Streight's brigade, of the same command, was ordered by General Wood 
to assault Overton's Hill. 

The assault was made, and received by the enemy with a tremen- 
dous fire of grape, canister and musketry, our men moving steadily on- 
ward up the hill until near the crest, when the reserves of the enemy 
rose and poured into the assaulting column a most destructive fire, caus- 
ing the men first to waver and then to fall back, leaving their dead and 
wounded, white and black, indiscriminately mingled, lying amid the 
abatis, the gallant Col. Post among the wounded. General Wood read- 
ily reformed his command in the position it had previously occupied, 
preparatory to a renewal of the assault, 



218 TWEL FTH REGIMENT lO WA INFANTR Y 

Immediately following the effort of the Fourth corps, Generals 
Smith and Schofiield's commands moved against the enemy's works in 
their respective fronts, carrying all before them, irreparably breaking 
his lines in a dozen places, and capturing all of his artillery and thou- 
sands of prisoners, among the latter four general officers. 

During the two days' operations there- were 4,462 prisoners cap- 
tured, including 287 officers of all gi-ades from that of Major General, 53 
pieces of artillery and thousands of small arms. The enemy abandoned 
on the field all of his dead and wounded. " 

Report of Lieut. Gen. A. P. Stewart, C. S. A., com- 
manding corps: 

* * * On Friday, December 2, we moved to the vicinity of Nash- 
vile, finally taking a position on the left of the army extending across 
Granny White pike to a hill near the Hillsboro pike. This line was en- 
trenched, was just a mile in length, and occupied by Loring's division 
alone. To jjrotect our left flank, works were commenced on four other 
hills lying along near to and on either side of the Hillsboro pike, the 
one farthest in the rear being one mile and a half distant from the front 
line. This latter line, to the left of Hillsboro pike, was prolonged to- 
ward Cumberland river by the cavalry and Ector's brigade of infantry, 
placed on picket on Hardin pike. 

On the morning of December 15 information was received that the 
enemy was advancing west of Hillsboro pike. General Walthall was 
directed to place his men under arms and man the redoubts. General 
French having received leave of absence, his division was attached to 
General Walthall's. Finding that the enemy was advancing in force, 
and that Ector's brigade and the cavaly were forced to retire, all of 
Walthall's command was placed behind the stone fence along the Hills- 
boro pike between redoubts 3 and 4 of the accompanying map. (Plate 
73, map 2 of Atlas.) Each redoubt contained a section or battery of 
artillery and from 100 to 150 infantry. 

The enemy appeared in force along the entire line, extending from 
rodoubt 1, 2 and 3 and as far as and beyond 4 and 5. My own line was 
stretched to its utmost tension, but could not reach far enough towards 
4 and 5 without leaving an opening between Loring's left and Walthall's 
right. 

The commanding General sent me as reinforcements, first, Mani- ! 
gault's, and soon after Deas' brigade of Johnson's division, Lee's corps, 
and later the two remaining brigades of that division. As these bri- 
gades arrived they were placed in line op])osite redoubt 4. By the time 
they were in line the enemy had carried redoubts 4 and 5, capturing 



PURSUIT OF HOOD 219 

many of the men and all of the artillery, the brigades of Manigault and 
Deas, making- but feeble resistance, fled. Loring'^s line not being yet 
pressed, a battery bad been ordered from it, which, arriving just at this 
moment, was placed on a commanding hill, and these same brigades ral- 
lied to its support. They again fled, however, at the approach of the 
enemy, abandoning the battery, which was captured. 

By this time the other brigade's of Johnson's division had come up, 
but were unable to check the progress of the enemy, who had passed 
the Hillsboro pike a full half mile, completely turning our flank and 
gaining the rear of both Walthall and Loring, whose situation had be- 
come perilous in the extreme. 

Deeming it absolutely necessary for them to fall back, orders were 
dispatched to that effect, when it was found that Walthall had already 
ordered his line to retire, not a moment t o soon. All the artillery in the 
redoubts, the battery above mentioned, and another on Loring 's line, 
were captured by the enemy. 

In the meantime one or two divisions of Chatham's corps had come 
up on the left, where the commanding general was in person. 

During the night of the loth the army was placed in position to re- 
ceive the attack expected at an early hour next morning. * * * 

* * * At about 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon the commanding 
General sent for me, and while in conversation with him an officer of his 
staff announced that the line had given away. 

Not being present at the moment this took place, I do not deem it 
proper to attempt to decide where the line first yielded. It would seem, 
however, that when once broken it very soon gave way everywhere and 
the whole army made for the Franklin pike. * * * 

Alex. P. Stewart, Lieutenant General. 

General Thomas, in his official report gives a detailed 
account of the pursuit of Hood's army. The parts of interest 
to the 12th Iowa are given in following extracts: 

"Leaving directions for the collection of the captured property and 
for the care of the wounded. At daylight on the 17th I pushed the 4th 
corps on towards Franklin by the direct pike, while the cavalry 
moved up the Granny White pike. The cavalry came up with 
the enemy's rear guard four miles from Franklin; the position was 
charged and handsomly carried. The enemy then fell back to Franklin. 
Our cavalry coming up from below forced the enemy to retire and our 
cavalry took possession of the town capturing the enemy's hospital con- 
taining over 2,000 wounded. The 4th corps followed immediately as far 
as Harpeth river where it found the bridges burned and too much water 



220 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

on the foi'ds for the infanti^y to ci'oss. A bridj>'e was hastily constructed 
but could not be made available before nightfall. On the 18th pursuit 
was continued to Rutherford creek, three miles from Columbus, the 
stream was impassable. During the 19th several unsuccessful attempts 
were made to cross the creek but heavy rains had inundated the whole 
country and rendered the roads and streams impassable. About noon of 
the 21st a floating bridge was constructed from the debris of the railroad 
bridge and General Smith's ti^oops were enabled to cross. The weather 
had changed from rain to bitter cold very materially retarding the work 
in laying the bridge. Notwithstanding the many delays I determined to 
continue the pursuit of Hood's shattered forces. He had formed a rear 
guard, made up of detachments from all his organized forces, numbering 
about 4,000 infantry under Walthall, and all his available cavalry under 
Forrest. With the exception of this rear guard his army was a dis- 
organized rabble of half-armed, barefooted men who sought every oppor- 
tunity to fall out by the wayside and desert their cause. 

Christmas morning the enemy evacuated Pulaski. On the 2Sth, it 
having been definitely ascertained that the enemy had made good his 
escape across the Tennessee, I ordered further pursuit to cease and 
directed General Smith to March to Clifton. 

On the 30th of December I announced to the army the successful 
completion of the campaign and gave direction for the disposition of the 
command as follows: * * Smith's corps to take post at Eastjwrt, Miss., 
and to go into winter quarters. This order not meeting the approval 
of the General in Chief orders were issued for Smith and Wilson to 
concentrate their commands at Eastport preparatory to a revival of the 
campaign against the enemy in Mississippi and Alabama * *. To all 
my sub-commanders, their officers and men, I give expressions of thanks 
and gratitude. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon an army which 
hastily made up from different commands successfully contended against 
a force numerically greater than itself and inflicted on it a crushing defeat. 

There were captured from the enemy during the campaign 13,189 
prisoners, including 7 general otticers, and 72 pieces of servicable artillery. 
2,000 deserters came into our lines and took the oath of allegiance. 
Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

George H. Thomas, Maj. Gen. U. S. A. Comd'g." 

The 12th participated in all the events of the pursuit via. 
of Franklin and Columbia to Pulaski. The rain which com- 
menced to fall on the 16th continued almost incesantly until 
the 30th. As our army followed Hood's southward the roads 
became quagmires through which the men waded, plastered 



EASTFOKT, MISS. 221 

with mud from head to foot. The nights were usually cold 
enough to freeze the mud stiff on top, but not hard enough 
to bear a man, and every step was in the slush. At Pulaski 
Smith's corps turned west via. of Lawrenceburg and Waynes- 
boro, and reached Clifton, on the Tennessee, January 2d, 1865. 
From Clifton the command was conveyed on transports up 
the river to Eastport, Miss., a landing on the Tennessee near 
the boundary line between Alabama and Mississippi. Here 
the regiment went into camp under the order first issued, 
and which was still in force so far as the men had been 
informed, "To go into winter quarters." 

The bleak snow-covered ridge where the camp was 
established; the absence of tents or baggage, gave little 
promise of comfort in winter weather, but the men had been 
too long in service to wait for someone else to furnish the 
comforts of a camp. On the bluffs near by they found scrub 
pines and other small timber which they cut and carried to 
camp, and from this material constructed shelters which they 
were pleased to call shebangs. Each squad built according 
to its own plan, with the result that there grew up, as if by 
magic, a city of aristocratic residences as varied in style as 
it was possible for ten thousand architects to make them. 
They were, however, uniform in this, that every shanty had 
a fireplace for warmth and bunks for sleeping places. 

All camp and garrison equipage of the regiment had 
been stored at Nashville. This was sent for and came around 
by boats about the middle of January. With these supplies 
the men settled down to enjoy their winter quarters. The 
only obstacle to complete enjoyment came in the shape of 
short rations, which to a soldier is a serious drawback to his 
comfort. By some carelessness on the part of the officer in 
charge of steamboat transportation at Cairo, a boat loaded 
with rations for Eastport was sent to some other point, and 
a boat loaded with corn was sent to us in its stead. By this 
error the command suddenly found itself without rations of 



222 7 WELFTH REGIMENT 10 WA INFANTR V 

any kind except " corn in the ear." This " mule feed " was 
reduced to a condition to be eaten by parching ; grinding in 
coffee mills ; pounding on stones, and any other process that 
would make it fit to eat. The boys lived upon it for over a 
week, until the missing boat could be brought back to its 
proper destination. In the meantime the irrepressible sol- 
dier must have his fun out of every vicissitude of camp life. 
Some of the boys declared that their ears were growing to 
be like mule's ears, and many of us in camp were willing to 
certify that their voices were very like the mule's, as the 
imitation of his bray made a constant din through the camp. 
One fellow, carrying the joke to its limit, harnessed six of 
his comrades with parts of the mule harness, drove them, 
with single rein and blacksnake whip, to General Smith's 
quarters, where the team, with loud braying, ran over the 
tent ropes, and created a general disturbance. The driver, 
meantime, using all the persuasive and emphatic language 
known to mule drivers. The row brought the "old man'' 
out of his tent with his very emphatic demand : " What in 

do you mean by this -row around my tent." The 

driver, still intent on his business, as all drivers should be, 

could only reply : "I have fed these mules full rations 

of corn, and tried to take them to water, but the fools took 
fright at that cracker box by your tent and ran in here and I 

can't do a damn thing with them." The General saw 

the point, and instead of having them arrested, as he doubt- 
less should have done, bade the driver hitch his mules to the 
old cracker box and see if they could haul it to camj), and, 
don't be caught around my tent again, or "I'll cut off your 
rations of corn and give you nothing but Tennessee water." 
The crackers went to camp all right and were disposed of as 
good crackers should be. 

While at Eastport, commissions were received as follows: 
Major, S. G. Knee; Captains, J, D. Conger, Co. A; W. R. 
Hanscom, Co. B; D. W. Reed, Co. C; J. L. Boughton, Co. 



EASTPORT, MIS^. 223 

D; R. A. Gibson, Co. G; G. H. Maffitt, Co. H; J. F. Zediker, 
Co. I, and O. T. Puller, Co. K. Lieutenants, W. L. Hender- 
son, Co. C; J. M. Clark, Co. D, and J. B. Morgan, Co. K. 
Adjutant, S. R. Burch, and Quartermaster, H. C. Morehead. 
These deserved promotions, and the receipt of about one 
hundred drafted men, which filled up the companies so as to 
enable the officers to muster in, placed the companies in good 
shape again for further service. 

About the middle of January Lt. Col. Stibbs obtained 
leave of absence and went home. Before his leave expired 
he was detailed on court martial at Washington, D. C, and 
remained on that service until he was mustered out. While 
serving on this court martial he assisted at the trial of Lin- 
coln's assassins and of Captain Wirtz of Andersonville 
notoriety. By the absence of Col . Stibbs, Major Knee became 
commander of the regiment, and retained that command 
until mustered out, except for a short period when he served 
as Provost Marshal at Selma, and another short term on 
court martial at Mobile. Captain Reed was detailed as Act- 
ing Major and served as such until the following May. 

The regiment, thus newly officered, occupied its "winter 
quarters'" just one month, and was then suddenly ordered to 
a new field of operations. 

" Theirs not to make reply, 
Theirs not to reason why, 
Theirs but to do and die." 



CHAPTER XIII. 



To THE Gulf— Spanish Port— End of War, 1865. 



General Thomas says that his order, to go into winter 
quarters, was not approved by the General in Chief. We 
of the 16th corps found that out after we had worked like 
beavers nearly a month building quarters and were just 
ready to enjoy the fruits of our labors. 

Prom the time of the Vicksburg campaign, Smith's com- 
mand — especially the 1st division -had been constantly used, 
as an emergency corps. It was substituted for another 
division as railroad guard; was loaned to Banks for the Red 
River expedition; was seized by Washburn for the Tupelo 
and Oxford raids; was sent to the relief of Steele at Little 
Rock; dogged the heels of Price'scavalry through Arkansas; 
was held by Rosencrans for a trip to Kansas and return; 
reinforced Thomas at Nashville, and now it is ordered to the 
Department of the Gulf to assist General Canby in the clos- 
ing scenes of the war. 

On Peb. 5, 1865, we vacated our homes at Eastport, and 
marched to the steamboat landing, where the entire 3d bri- 
gade embarked on steamer Magenta, southward bound. We 
were at Cairo on the 10th, and arrived at Vicksburg on the 
13th, and there disembarked and went into camp on Walnut 
hills. The 12th occuping for the third time ground near the 
position it occupied during the seige. 

The corps was landed at Vicksburg under orders to 



TO THE GULF 225 

march south and attack Mobile. This plan was abandoned 
and the corps ordered to New Orleans by boat. On the 18th 
the entire brigade re-embarked on the Magenta and proceded 
down the river, arriving at New Orleans on the evening of 
the 21st. The next day the troops disembarked and went 
into camp south of the city upon the old Jackson battlefield. 
It was very fortunate for some of us, that we succeeded in 
pre-empting a few square feet of ground on the original 
earthwork erected by the defenders of New Orleans in 1814, 
for, during the first night in camp, rain fell in torrents 
accompanied by high wind, and before daylight next morn- 
ing the camp of the corps, save a strip a few feet wide 
along the earthwork, was covered with water, in many places 
over a foot deep. The wind blew down the shelter tents and 
the whole command was exposed to pouring rain from above, 
and rushing floods from below. Long before daylight, 
from every direction, could be heard the long-drawn cry, as 
of the sailor taking soundings: "N-o b-o-t-t-o-m." "M-ar-k 
T-w-a-i-n" mingled with the imitation croaking of frogs and 
bellowing of alligators, and other water animals. When day- 
light broke upon the scene it disclosed an army of men 
drenched with water crowded upon the high ground of the 
levee and earthwork while the late camp was marked by 
muskets reversed, bayonets sticking in the ground, their 
butts supporting blankets and haversacks of the men while 
the owners waded around like cranes, fishing in the wreck, 
for their other traps. As the rain ceased, the water soon 
ran off or soaked into the ground. The shelter tents were 
reset, and with brush, cut from the nearby sw^amp, floors 
were laid, to keep the blankets out of the mud, and the 
camp was soon in good shape again. 

The sudden change from ice and snow at Cairo to the 
warm sunshine and orange blossoms of New Orleans was 
very enjoyable. Our arrival in this southern city was very 
timely as it enabled us to witness the parades of Mardi Gras 



226 TWEL FTH REGIMENT lO WA IN FA NTRY 

festival which waa revived this year with renewed splendor. 
On the 4th of March, the day of Lincoln's second inaugural, 
we witnessed another public celebration and civic-parade on 
the occasion of the inaugeration of the Governor of the 
State. The city was decorated; the police and fire depart- 
ments paraded in holiday attire and everything seemed to be 
peaceful and harmonious. Evidences of a good city govern- 
ment were apparent in clean streets, excellent police regula- 
tions and in good order prevailing everwhere and all on 
account of the energitic through military rule of General 
Butler. However much these people may have hated him, 
and however well pleased they may be to refer to him as 
"The Beast," etc., the fact remains that New Orleans was 
never better governed than when under the military govern- 
ment of Gen. B. F. Butler. 

Sunday, March 2th, the 12th Iowa left New Orleans, and 
marching through the oSX,^ and out on the celebrated shell 
road to Lake Pontchartrain embarked on steamer A. G. 
Brown, and by the very pleasant route of Lake Borgne and 
Mississippi sound, arrived at Dauphine Island, just outside 
Mobile Bay, at 4 o'clock, P. M. on the 6th and established 
camp on the clean sands of that little island. The balance of 
the corps was brought over from New Orleans, some regi- 
ments on ocean steamers by the way of mouth of the Missis- 
sippi river, and others by inner passage until all were 
assembled near the entrance to Mobile Bay. 

The oyster beds near the camp of the 12th furnished to 
all a change of rations, as well as delightful recreation while 
in camp on the island. So plentiful were the bivalves that 
six mule teams were driven upon the beds during low tide 
and wagons loaded with them. They were then shoveled out 
in heaps in camp, and every one allowed to help himself to 
oysters, raw, roasted, stewed, baked or fried as he liked best 
it only being stipulated that each customer should prepare 
his own order to suit his taste. 

General Canby had collected his army in this vicinity for 



SPANISH FORT 227 

a campaign against Mobile and on Sunday, March 19th, the 
movement was commenced. The 12th left Dauphine Island on 
Gunboat No. 48, and crossing the mouth of the bay anchored 
in Navy cove above Fort Morgan. Not a horse, or transpor- 
tation of any kind, was allowed. Officers, as well as men, 
were required to carry all the baggage required and rations 
for five days. On the 20th our boat ascended Pish river as 
far as navigable and we landed at Danby's Mills, about 20 
miles south of the head of Mobile bay, and camped upon a 
high ridge among the pine, under orders from General 
Canby as follows: "It must be constantly bourn in mind 
that the pick and spade are useful adjuncts to the musket 
and rifle and that every position taken must be at once for. 
tified." We built strong breastworks along our front by 
cutting the large pines and piling them about five feet high 
with dirt thrown up against the outside. With this kind of 
work and just enough skirmishing lo warn us that our move- 
ments were being watched, and to keep our pickets alert, we 
employed our time until the 25th when the 13th and 16th 
corps were in position and the advance commenced along the 
east side of Mobile Bay. The halt each night was the signal 
for building breastworks, and each bivouac marked a well 
fortified camp. The march was enlivened by slight skirmish- 
ing in front with but few casualties. The only one in our 
brigade happened to its commander, Colonel Marshall, who 
was slightly wounded in the neck by a musket ball, while 
riding at the head of his brigade. 

Monday, March 27th, we moved out of camp at 8 A. M., 
marching directly west towards a strongly fortified position 
on east side of the bay, opposite Mobile, called Spanish 
Fort. About 9:30 the advance arrived within range of the 
enemy's batteries, and our army went into position, with the 
3d division of the 16th corps on the right, extending the line 
to the bay north of the fort. The 1st division next in 
line to the left. The 13th corps extending the line to the 



228 TWELFTH REGIMENT lO IV A INF A N TR Y. 

bay below the fort. The 2d division of 16th corps in reserve. 
The 1:2th Iowa was on the extreme left of its division, and 
next to the 13th corps. Companies I and B, were sent out as 
skirmishers, and soon drove the enemy's skirmishers within 
their works, and developed a very strong earthwork, with 
deep ditch in front. Just outside the ditch was a cleared 
space of 100 yards, and outside of that, an abatis of trees 
felled tops outward and wire strung through the tree tops 
making a veritable wire fence in the abatis. These strong 
works were fully manned and supplied with heavy artillery. 

Following the advance of the skirmishers, McArthur's 
men got into position just out of musket range about noon. 
The 13th corps was some time later in getting up where its 
line conformed to McArthur's. In getting into position the 
2d Vermont fired into the rear of one skirmish line, severely 
wounding Henry Pry of company B, in the foot, causing am- 
jDutation. 

The men lay in line all the afternoon, expecting to be 
ordered to charge the works. General Smith appears to 
have asked permission to attack with two divisions. Gen- 
eral Canby doubted Smith's ability to carry the works and 
asked McArthur's opinion. After a careful inspection of 
the works General McArthur is said to have replied: "My 
division will go in there if ordered, but if the rebels stay by 
their guns it will cost the lives of half of my men." Canby 's 
answer was: "It won't pay." 

The charge was deferred, and during the night breast- 
works were built and seige operations commenced in regular 
order. 

On the 28th the gunboats came up the bay and took posi- 
tion near the left flank of the 13th corps. One of the boats, 
in getting position, ran upon a torpedo that had been planted 
in the channel, and was blown up. Our land batteries got 
into position and commenced pounding away, while the in- 
fantry, by heavy details, went to work digging approaches, 



SPANISH FORT 229 

saps and entrenchments and regular siege operations were 
fully inaugurated. 

On the 30th of March, the 3d brigade was moved out of 
its place and transferred to the center of the 18th corps line, 
where it took the place of a division that was sent from that 
corps to escort a supply train to General Steele. In order 
to fully occupy the extended line of a division, the brigade 
was almost constantly on duty. The 12th was obliged to 
keep three companies at a time on picket, and most of the 
balance of the command was required to fill the details 
for working parties. We held the place until April 
4, when we returned to our former place in the line, 
and that evening advanced the whole line to a point within 
musket range and, before morning, built a strong earthwork 
to cover our entire front. Our trenches and approaches had 
by this time reached the abatis, and were so arranged that a 
column of men could be marched along the saps, entirely 
protected from, view of the enemy and could be placed in 
battle line at the abatis, which was being cut away so 
that passage through it could be easily made. Yankee 
ingenuity planned a new and effective weapon for use in the 
trenches. It consisied of a section of gum tree, about three 
feet long, bored out at one end so as to receive a charge of 
powder and a shell on top. This wooden mortar could be 
easily carried into the trenches by two men, and then with a 
small charge of powder they were able to throw a shell, 
with very short fuse, directly over into the rebel works.* 
From these advanced trenches it was possible to make an 
attack with very little exposure of the attacking party. All 
preparations were completed for such an attack, when, on 
the 8th of April, during a heavy bombardment along the 
whole line, the 8th Iowa, from its place on the extreme right 
of the line, made a dash just about dark and captured and 
held a portion of the Confederate works, and was in excel- 

*NoTE— One of these mortars, made by the liith Iowa, is now on exhibition at the 
Iowa State Arsenal in L)es Moines. 



230 TWELFTH REGIMEN T 10 WA IN FA NTRY 

lent shape for a general attack next morning. About mid- 
night the pickets of our regiment discovered suspicious 
movements of the enemy in their front and advanced their 
line until they discovered the enemy's works were deserted. 
They immediately reported the fact to the brigade com- 
mander, and the brigade was at once ordered forward and 
took possession of the deserted works, and following the re- 
treating enemy, succeeded in capturing 800 prisoners before 
they could embark for the other side of the bay. Upon in- 
specting the works we found 35 pieces of heavy artillery 
still in place, and large stores of ammunition. At several 
places inside the works, as well as in the cleared space be- 
tween the forts and the abatis, torpedos were set. Fortun- 
ately this fact was discovered in time, so that with care they 
were avoided until daylight when they were removed. 

While our regiment made no record of brilliant charges 
or exciting attacks during the siege, and while the final re- 
sults did not create great enthusiasm through the country 
because of the momentuous events then transpiring at other 
points, such as the surrender of Lee occurring the same day, 
yet Mc Arthur's division did its full share of the work and 
was entitled to and received its full credit for tlie victory 
won. 

The loss in 12th Iowa during the seige was eight men 
wounded, as follows: 

Corporal Henry Fry, Co. B, leg amputated; Robert 
Wampler, Co. B; J. C. Davis, Co. C; Robert G. Boone, Co. 
E; Lewis L. Lowe, Co. G; Joseph Cameron, Marion Austin, 
and Michael McDermot, Co I. 

Extracts from official reports are as follows: 

Colonel W. R. Marshall Commanding Brigade. 

* * * "On the 25th, during the march, a small party of the en- 
emj' on our left fired a volley into the head of the brigade; only one shot 
took effect, giving me a severe flesh wound on the left side of the back 
of the neck. * * * On the 30th of March I was ordered to report the 



SPANISH FORT 231 

brigade to General Granger commanding- tlie 13th corps. I did so, and 
was assigned position in line vacated by General Veatch's division. I 
found the trenches on this part of the line just begun. T completed the 
trenches and breastworks, and on the night of April 3d, opened a new 
parallel, 120 paces in advance of former one, and almost up to the rifle 
pits of the enemy. On the 4th I returned to former position in line and 
opened a trench to the left and dug saps from line to advanced trench, 
within a stone's throw of enemy's rifle pits. * * * On the 8th the 
enemy evacuated their works and my skirmishers advance over the 
parapet. 

From the 27th of March to 8th of April, inclusive, we were con- 
stantly under fire. * * * My acknowledgements are due tc regi- 
mental commanders. * * * Major Knee, 12th Iowa, * * * for 
energetic execution of all orders." 



Gen. J. McArthur commanding Division. 

"The brigades were in line according to their numbers from 
right to left. Each commenced a sap which was pushed forward to 
within 75 yards of the fort, when an attack by the right brigade of Gen- 
eral Carr's division on the night of April 8th, followed by troops of my 
division, captured the fort. The 3rd brigade. Col. Mai'shall, was de- 
tached a portion of the time to supply the place of a division of the 13th 
corps." 

General A. J. Smith, commanding Corps. 

* * * "The first parallel was made about 400 yards from the 
enemy's works. From this parallel saps were worked forward by each 
brigade. * * * The saps of the 1st division were the nearest to the 
enemy at the time of the capture of the fort. * * * Every man in my 
command was on duty once in every twenty-four hours, and at times the 
officers and non-commissioned officers held the line while the men slept. 
* * * April 8th, everything being prepared for an assault, the First 
and Third divisions were ordered into the trenches to be ready for any 
emergency. * * * Just before dark the skirmishers on the extreme 
right succeeded in gaining a foothold on the enemy's works. By mid- 
night the whole fort was in our possession The capture amounted to 
540 prisoners, 46 pieces of artillery, and 4 stands of colors. Our loss was 
26 killed; 319 wounded; and 3 missing. Total, 348," 



232 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Hftcfrat PTFTn Ortifr^ ^ Headquarters Army AND Division OF 

GENERAL blELD ORDERS, ^ ^^^^ MISSISSIPPI. 

No. 32. MOBILE, Ala., April 22d, 1865. 

The Major-Genei-al Commanding thinks it proper to announce as 
the general results of the operations around the city: The capture of 
the enemy's works at Spanish Fort and Blakely; the surrender of 
Mobile; the capture of more than five thousand prisoners, twelve flags, 
nearly three hundred pieces of artillery, several thousand stand of small 
arms, and large stores of amunition and other material of war. 

It is his province to report results : that of a higher authority to 
bestow appropriate commendations and rewards; but it is not improper 
to express his personal thanks to the officers and men of this Army for 
their zeal, energy and gallantry, and to the officers and men of the Navy, 
for their hearty and zealous co-operation in the work that has been ac- 
complished. He begs that the Sabbath next ensuing the receipt of this 
order, may be made the occasion of thanksgiving for the past, and prayer 
for the future; and that all will unite with him in the earnest petition, 
that God in His mercy will deal tenderly with the relatives and friends 
of our dead and wounded comrades. 

By ORDER OF Major General E. R. S. Canby : 

C. T. Christesen, Lt. Col., A. A. Gen. 



Daring the siege of Spanish Fort the 2d division was 
withdrawn from reserve and invested a strong work near the 
head of Mobile bay called Fort Blakely. Early in the morn- 
ing of the 9 h of April, Mc Arthur's division was ordered to 
re-enforce the 2d division. In pursuance of that order our 
division moved up to Fort Blakely where it arrived just in 
time to witness a brilliant and successful as?ault by the 2d 
division which resulted in the capture of the Fort with its 
entire garrison of 3,200 men with all arms, guns, and muni- 
tions of war. This gallant charge by the 2d division of the 
16th corps was the last charge viade in the war, and the force 
captured by this division, was the last force of rebels to 
make a stand against our army. The war had virtually 
ended in the surrender of Lee, though we did not hear of 
that surrender until several days later. 

"With the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, 



MONTGOMERY . 233 

Mobile was open to our armies and a force was at once started 
around the head of the bay for that city. Without waiting 
for the arrival of this force the rebel authorities blew up 
Fort Eugene in the harbor and evacuated the city, April 12th, 
and Mobile was at once occupied by our forces and the 
United States resumed complete control of the gulf and all 
its forts and harbors. 

Thursday, April 13th, the 16th corps started for Mont- 
gomery; the first capital of the Confederacy. For several 
days our route lay through heavy pine forests where the 
only industry seemed to be "pitch, turpentine and tar." 
The roads were generally good ; our march was unobstructed 
and no incident of importance marked our progress until the 
19th, when a great commotion was raised by the report that 
Lee had surrendered to Grant. This report was fully con- 
firmed at Greenville on the 22d, when the ofiicial notice of 
the surrender was received and was communicated to the 
army by a staff officer who rode the length of the line, as 
fast as his horse could carry him, shouting as he rode : 
"Official dispatch, Lee has surrendered." The shout was 
taken up by the regiments in succession along the line, and 
as men fully realized that such surrender meant an end of 
the war and that their fighting days were over, they gave 
themselves over to wildest demonstrations of joy. The dis- 
patch from the Secretary of War, announcing the surrender, 
directed that immediately upon the receipt of notice of sur- 
render, a salute of two hundred guns be fired at every station 
of troops in the United States. At 3 o'clock P. M. all the 
guns of all the batteries in the corps unlimbered and joined in 
that grand salute. The sound of the guns was answered by 
the mighty cheers from the whole army welcoming the dawn 
of peace. 

We reached Montgomery at 1 P. M., April 25th, and 
went into camp three miles east of the city. Paroled men 
from Lee's army began to arrive In a few days. They were 



234 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

without money, food or clothing and came, in large numbers, 
into our camps, where the boys gladly shared rations with 
them and helped them on their way. They were apparently 
as glad that the end had 'come as we were, and were enthusi- 
astic in their praise of our soldiers who had, from the day of 
the surrender, been very kind in sharing rations with them. 

Merchants at Montgomery opened their stores and 
offered their small stocks of goods for sale, but professed 
to be entirely ignorant of values, and at sea as to prices 
which should be charged under the new order of things. 
They rejected the confederate money altogether, saying that 
it had long been nearly worthless, and that they were glad to 
be rid of it. Boots marked $250 per pair were freely offered 
for $10 " in your money," meaning greenbacks, or $7 in gold 
or silver. Flour had been selling at $500 per barrel, and 
very little to be had at any price. All other provisions had 
been selling at like prices. 

Many of the members of the 12th had been here as pris- 
oners of war in 1862. These soon found acquaintances 
among the citizens who had befriended them, and sought 
opportunity to return the favors. Among others of these 
friends still living here were Mr. Stowes, chief of fire 
department, and Mrs. Cowles. These were invited out to 
camp and received a hearty reception. Some of the men 
visited the cemetery and tried to find the graves where their 
comrades were buried. They succeeded in finding in a neg- 
lected corner of the grounds a long trench, and in the records 
just these words opposite the lot number : "Yankee Pris- 
oners." Nothing to designate the names or number of those 
buried there. 

April 29th official notice was received of the assassina- 
tion of President Lincoln. The regiment was called into 
line at once and the announcement read. No former catas- 
trophe of the war created such a profound sensation, A 
dead silence followed the reading for a fevv moments untii 



SELMA 235 

the full import of the horrible crime was realized, and then 
there arose, as if by common impulse, deep muttered curs- 
ings and threats against all instigators and perpetrators of 
the cruel murder, and, under the impression that the act 
was authorized by the Confederacy, many soldiers expressed 
themselves as desirous of having one more opportunity to 
meet armed rebels in the field and avenge the death of the 
President. Had it not been that rebel soldiers and citizens 
alike at once denounced the assassin and expressed great- 
est sorrow that the inhuman act had been perpetrated in the 
name of the Confederacy, the city might have been in 
danger. 

Prom sunrise to sunset, May 1st, in obedience to orders, 
half -hour guns were fired — and from 12 to 1, minute guns — 
while every flag was draped and placed at half mast in sorrow 
for the dead President. 

May 4th we received official notice, brought by carriers 
across country, of Johnson's surrender and of General Am- 
nesty for all the country east of the Mississippi river, and 
the men began to say : " The war is over and our time of 
service has expired by the terms of the contract and we are 
ready to go home." 

Wednesday, May 10th, our brigade left camp under 
orders to march to Selma. After crossing the river on a 
pontoon bridge, and marching two miles, we were ordered 
to return and embark on boats. Under this order the 12th 
Iowa, 35th Iowa and 33d Missouri, were crowded upon the 
Tarscon, and at 1 o'clock next morning were at the landing 
at Selma. We disembarked at daylight and stood around all 
day waiting for some troops of the 13th corps to vacate a 
camp to which we had been assigned. 

Friday, May 12, the regiment went into camp on very 
pleasant grounds recently occupied by the 29th Indiana, in 
the suburbs of the city. Regimental headquarters was estab- 



236 TWELFTH REGIMENT lOlVA INFANTRY 

lished in a vacant house near camp, and we were very soon 
"at home" to our friends in new quarters. 

Selma liad been a very pretty city, and had escaped the 
ravages of war until iust before its close when Wilson's cav- 
alry raid struck the town, and, meeting with sharp resistance, 
took it by assault and a cavalry charge which swept through 
the streets. The arsenal and extensive factories for manu- 
facturing guns and ammunition were fired; the explosions 
wrecked most of the business part of the city, but left the 
residence portion intact. We found it a very pleasant and 
healthful camp. Colonel Marshall was assigned to the com- 
mand of the post, and the 12th settled down to regular 
routine of camp duties, drill, guard mount, etc. Some of 
the men felt inclined to draw a line on drills, now that the 
war was over, but it was thought to be necessary in order to 
compel sufficient exercises for good health. The superior 
health of our regiment as compared with those that did 
not drill was soon so apparent that no further objections 
were made, and it was frequently remarked that muffled 
drums were beating quite often in an adjacent camp, but 
never in ours. The guard duty seemed to be of a very de- 
moralizing kind, usually guarding cotton while the teams 
hauled it to the steamboat landing. It soon became appa- 
rent that the title to the cotton was held only by that old 
rule, "Those may take who have the power, and those shall 
keep who can," and that the army was being used by specu- 
lators who had followed in its wake to make money out of its 
victories. The soldiers began to object to being used as tools 
for such purposes unless there was something in it for them, 
and were perhaps not as vigilant as they might have been 
when some rival speculator tried to get a share. There were 
complaints that soldiers stole cotton from the guards and 
rolled the bales into the river and floated it down to some 
convenient steamboat, which would pick it up and pay a good 
price for it. It seemed that the government should have 



SELMA 237 

taken possession of all the cotton, for there was no doubt 
but that nearly all, if not all, had been purchased by the 
Confederate government, and that it was now the lawful 
property of the United States. The policy, however, 
seemed to be to recognize the -person in possession as the 
owner; hence the strife to get possession of as much as pos- 
sible and to sell as quickly as it could be delivered. 

With this kind of guard duty and frequent excursions 
into the country to escort agents of the Freed men's Bureau 
and help adjust some differences between planters and freed- 
men, the summer flitted away. About May 25th the regi- 
mental tents and other baggage that were left at New Or- 
leans, and which had been following us around for the last 
two years, and had been in use by us for only a few days at 
a time, were brought up and a regulation camp established 
with awnings in front of the tents covered with brush, which 
furnished pleasant shade. Altogether, we were quite well 
fixed, and would have been happy but for the fact that we 
wanted to go home. 

During the year of active duties in the field the men had 
taken a deep interest in building a home for the orphans of 
their comrades who had fallen. Ingersoll, in his "Iowa and 
the Rebellion," says of this: 

But the greatest achievement of charity, of Christian benevolence, 
of which any state can boast, is the Towa Soldiers' Orphan's Home. This 
is an institution of peculiar character and of wider compass than any 
similar work of which their is any account given in histoiy ; for it con- 
templates in its organization all that is embraced in the name " Home " 
and the system of common schools. In this Iowa has taken a bold step 
and has already given the demonstration of a grand success. * * * 
The magnanimity and benevolence of our soldiers offer a new sight to 
the world. Their approval and influence was sought, and by their own 
promptings contributed the astounding sum of $45,226.62. 

Of this sum the 12th Iowa contributed 12,975, paid as 
follows: June 27, 1864, $373,00; Dec. 15, $1,339.00; Aug. 12, 



238 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

1865, $413.00; Oct. 18, $100; Dec. 2, $725 00; Dec. 16, 
$25.00. Total, $2,975. 

Resolutions by the subscribers were as follows: 

"Headquarters 12th Iowa Vet. Vol. Infantry. \ 
Montgomery, Ala., May 6, 1865. f 

Rev. p. p. Ingalls, Agent of-- Asylum for Iowa Soldiers'' Orphans.^^ 

Dear Sir: — 

At a meeting of the 12th Iowa subscribers for "Asylum for Iowa 
Soldiers' Orphans," the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 

Whereas: It seems proable that at the June meeting- of stockhold- 
ers, the character of the institution will be definitely settled; its name 
established, and location fixed, and, 

Whei'eas: The funds for the erection of such asylum have been 
contributed largely by Iowa Soldiers in the service, as a free gift for a 
specific and uoble object. Therefore, 

Resolved: That the institution should have for its specific and 
only object, the care and training of children of Iowa Union Soldiers who 
have fallen in battle or died of disease during the War of the Rebellion, 
and should be of higher order than these institutions established for 
the children of criminal or indigent parents, and should be so man- 
aged that occupants may in after years look back to it with pride as an 
evidence of the glorious service of their fathers. 

Resolved: That the name of the institution should be such as to 
express its purpose. We protest against the name "State Orphans 
Asylum." 

S. W. Huff, Surgeon, \ 

O. T. Fuller, Captain, VCom." 

J. W. BURCH, Sergt., ) 

True copy, D. W. Reed, Secretary. 

About the middle of July, 1865, a lai^ge number of regi- 
ments were mustered out of service, among them all the 
regiments of our brigade except the 12th Iowa. The 27th 
and 35th Iowa regiments had some men who had enlisted for 
one or two years, and had been but a short time in the serv- 
ice. These men were ordered to be transferred to the 12th 
Iowa to complete their term of service. In his haste to get 
home, the officer of the 27th, who had been appointed to 
make the transfer, failed to make descriptive and pay rolls, and 



SELMA 239 

paymasters refused to pay these men. This trouble increased 
the feeling among the 27th's men that they had been unfairly 
treated by being compelled to complete their term of service 
in another regiment after their own had been mustered out. 
Among the old members of the 12th there was a feeling that 
they had been unfairly treated by being retained in service 
after the war was over, and after other regiments of shorter 
service were allowed to go home. Another reason of discon- 
tent was found in the fact of continued issue of poor rations. 
Some commissary officer, anxious, no doubt, to dispose of 
ration on hand so as to enable him to settle his accounts, was 
endeavoring to dispose of his stock on hand by issuing it to 
the troops. These evils, fancied or real, were by constant 
talk and agitation made to appear very serious, and resulted 
at length in an agreement by quite a number of the men of 
the regiment to refuse to do duty or answer to roll call until 
their wrongs were righted. This agreement was to be car- 
ried into effect on the morning of September 15. Accord- 
ingly a number of the men — in two or three companies the 
entire company — refused to obey any order. For a day or 
two great confusion existed. Captains of about half the 
companies succeeded in controlling the matter in their own 
companies; the others were unable to do so, and willing com- 
panies were obliged to furnish extra details to do the work. 
Finally a number of the leaders of the revolt were arrested 
and sent to Montgomery to be tried by court-martial. A few 
days in the guardhouse there satisfied the boys that nothing 
was to be gained by revolt, and they signified their willing- 
ness to return to duty, and asked the regimental officers to 
come to their relief. A request for their release was signed 
by all the officers of the regiment and presented at head- 
quarters by Major Knee, then a Provost Marshal at Mont- 
gomery. The request was granted, and the first and only 
revolt in the ranks of the 12th Iowa was ended. 

During the summer several changes were made in the 



240 TWELFH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

commissioned officers of the regiment. The Adjutant Gen- 
eral's reports of 1865 shows the following commissions issued 
after leaving Eastport: 

Col. J. H. Stibbs; Lt. Col. S. G. Knee; Maj. D. W. Reed; 
Asst Surg. James Barr; Capts. W. L. Henderson, J. F. 
Hutchins, John Bremner; 1st Lieuts. C. W. Runkle, J. P. 
Jackson, H. J. Grannis, Eli King, C. R. Switzer, Abner Dun- 
hum, A. E. Anderson, David Moreland, J. L. Thompson. 

On the 8th of August, 1865, nearly all of the regiments 
of the 16th corps had mustered out, and the corps organiza- 
tion was discontinued by the following orders: 



Farewell Order. Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith to the 16th Corps: 

Headquarters 16th Army Corps, 

Montgomery. Ala., Ang-. 8, 1865 



General Orders, No. .35. 

The 16th Army Corps having been discontinued as an organization, 
by orders fi'om the President, the Major General commanding deems it 
proper and just to express to the troops hitherto comprising it his ap- 
preciation of the long and arduous service, the unwearied patriotism, 
the cheerful obedience to orders — the dauntless courage and resistless 
morale which have won for you a high name in the records of your coun- 
try, of which you may well be proud. 

Fort de Russy, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Lake Chicot, Tupelo, 
Nashville, Spanish Fort and Blakely attest your gallantry and success 
during the last year of the war You have never experienced defeat or 
repulse. Your military history is without blot or stain. With this 
record of your service you can return to your respective homes, as mus- 
tered out, with the consciousness that you have performed your full duty, 
won the respect and admirution of your commanders, and well deserved 
the confidence and trust of the country that in her hour of danger placed 
you in rahks and trusted to you her battles. Still continue to merit 
that confidence and trust by becoming as good citizens as you have been 
soldiers. Remember that for a I'epublican government the main requis- 
ite is enlightened, moral, and industrious citizens. Unless you become 
such, the results of your entire service are lost to you. Let the memory 
of what you have endured endear to you every foot of American soil. 
Having asserted the supremacy of the General Government in arms, 
assist, now, in creating for it a glorious future among nations. 

A. J. Smith, Major General. 



SELMA 241 

The members of the old 16th corps held their venerable 
chief in great esteem, and, while pleased to know that there 
was no longer necessity for keeping up the organization, 
they parted with their comrades and with their loved com- 
mander with deep regret. With their comrades in arms be- 
cause of that deep and unaccountable sympathy which binds 
those who have endured trials and dangers together, and 
which has engendered such confidence, each in the other, 
that they believed themselves invincible, knowing that no 
regiment in the corps would fail to fully support every other 
regiment in whatever emergency it might be placed. With 
their commander because he had ever been a successful 
leader and a true soldier, under whose command they had 
never experienced defeat or repulse, and had come to feel 
that defeat was impossible. 

With the muster-out of so many regiments, those in the 
service were required to spread out and cover more terri- 
tory. On the 25th of September the 12th was sent to Talla- 
dega, Ala., where the regimental headquarters was estab- 
lished. A few days later Captain Reed, with Company C, 
was sent to Center, Ala.; Captain Bremner, with Company P, 
to Ashville, Ala.; and Captain Zediker, with Company I, to 
Wedowa, Ala. Soon after Company G, was mounted and the 
men distributed as dispatch carriers at the four posts occu- 
pied by the regiment. By this arrangement the regiment 
covered a large part of northeast Alabama. The duties 
seemed to be that of adjusting differences between planters 
and the freedmen; administering the oath of allegiance to 
such as desired to witness their return to their allegiance to 
the United States, and collecting government property which 
had recently belonged to the C. S. A. 

Company C, arrived at Center October 12th and remained 
until November 29th. when Captain Reed was directed to 
leave twenty men under the command of Lieutenant Hender- 
son: report in person, with balance of his company, at Jack- 



242 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY. 

sonville; relieve the 2d ISlew Jersey Cavalry, on duty there, 
and assume command of the post of Blue Mountain. This 
post included the counties of Calhoun, Cherokee and Ran- 
dolph. Parts of Companies E and F, were directed to report 
to Captain Reed at Jacksonville. Provost duty in these three 
counties w^as continued until December 25, when orders were 
received by Captain Reed to abandon all outposts, call in all 
detachments, and report, with all men belonging to the 12th 
Iowa, at Tallr.dega, where the regiment was under orders to 
proceed to Memphis, Tenn., where a negro revolt was threat- 
ened, and the citizens had asked for troops and protection. 
After many delays on account of miserable railroad service, 
the regiment arrived at Memphis Jnuary 2, 1866, via. Selma, 
Meridian and Corinth. The first night at Memphis was 
passed upon the platfarm around the railroad depot. On 
the 3d, the companies were distributed about the city, with 
regimental headquarters and five companies at the arsenal. 

The presence of troops quieted the apprehension of an 
uprising. One of the local papers, in speaking of the regi- 
ment's arrival and of the security which its presence gave 
the city, says: " The 12th Iowa is one of the bravest, most 
orderly, best behaved regiments in the service. Its presence 
assures our people perfect security and protection." On the 
20th of January the regiment was ordered mustered out of 
service. The rolls were made out, all government property 
turned over, and the members of the regiment directed to 
report at Davenport for final discharge and pay. 

" Never again in line to stand 

And watch the enemy advancing; 
To await the sharp word of command, 

To see from hostile bayonets glancing 
The bright new gleam of the early day. 
Never again in the morning gray 
To hear the bugles calling, calling 
To battle, where men '11 be falling." 



MUSTERED OUT 243 

The regiment was mustered for final pay and discharge 
January 25, 186G, and for the last time answered to roll call 
as a regiment. 

No sooner did the men receive their final pay than they 
invested in a suit of citizens' clothes; doffed the suit of blue 
they had worn so long, and with nothing to distinguish them 
■from those who had remained at home, save their own con- 
sciousness of duty to their country well and faithfully done, 
were soon speeding homeward to mingle at once in the hus- 
tling tide of private citizens endeavoring to earn an honest 
living by peaceful pursuits. 

We cannot follow them further; but we know that many 
found upon their return to the shop, the farm, or the store, 
that the places they had vacated to go into the service had 
been filled by others. That young men who staid at home, 
or emigrants, were occupying all the paying positions, and 
the only thing left for the veterans was to go West and seek 
new fields of labor. That many of them did so and built lor 
themselves comfortable homes and proved themselves good 
and useful citizens in the land of their choice is proved by 
the records of our reunions, which show them as occupying 
places of honor and trust, won for themselves even as they 
won the battles of old, by self-reliance, loyalty to country 
and its laws, and an earnest endeavor to perform every duty 
faithfully and well. 

" Some rest on distant battle-fields, 
Where first the battery's thunder pealed; 
Some far away 'mid arts of peace, 
Whose call they heard when strife did cease. 
But we remember every name — 
As comrades still each one we claim." 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Sketches of Military Services of Regimental, 

Officers. 



Colonel Joseph Jackson Woods was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, January 11, 1823; was appointed to West 
Point Military Academy in June 1843, to the place made 
vacant by the graduation of U. S. Grant, Woods graduated 
number three in his class and wascommissiond 2d Lieutenant 
in the 1st U. S. Artillery, in 1847. Immediately after his 
graduation he was detailed on recruitg service in New York 
city and in October was ordered, with his recruits, Com- 
panies L and M., to join his regiment in Mexico. The ship 
upon which he embarked was wrecked off the coast of South 
Carolina. His command escaped to an island and was taken 
to Fort Moultrie where it awaited another ship and finally 
reached Vera Cruz January 5, 1848, where the command was 
assigned to garrison duty. The following October Lieu- 
tenant Woods was promoted IsL Lieutenant and ordered back 
to New York. Soon after he was ordered with same com 
panics— L and M — to Oregon where he arrived May 9, 1849, 
after a sea voyage of six month from New York. In April, 
1S51, he was sent in command of a detachment to "The 
Dalles," on the Columbia river east of the Cascade range, 
where he comanded the post for eighteen month. This was 
then the only post and he the only commissioned officer 
between the Cascade range and Fort Laramie. In Septem- 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 245 

ber, 1852, he returned to Fort Vancouver, and the next Feb- 
ruary was ordered to New York as Superintendent of 
recruiting service. In June, 1853, he received leave of 
absence and visited Iowa, buying land in Jackson County. 
He married Miss Kezia Hight in September and soon after 
resigned his commission and removed to his lands in Iowa, 
where he made his home until the rebellion broke out when he 
tendered his service to the Governor and was commissioned 
Colonel of the 12th Iowa, October 23, 1861. From the organi- 
zation of the regiment to December, 1864, he was constantly 
with the regiment as its commander or the commander of the 
brigade or division with which the 12th was serving. At 
Shiloh he was twice wounded and taken prisoner, but was 
left on the field and recaptured the second day. Recovering 
from his wounds he was detailed on recruiting service until 
his regiment was exchanged when he assumed command. 
April 14, 1863, he was assigned to the command of 3d brigade, 
3d division, 15th Army corps. From that time to the end of 
his term of his service he was almost constantly in command 
of a brigade or a division. He served during the Vicksburg 
campaign including the battle and siege of Jackson. On 
July 15, 1863, General Tuttle reported sick and Colonel 
Woods was assigned to command the 3d division and 
retained that command until October. He commanded the 
brigade at Tupelo and Oxford, and during the Price raid, 
until October 16, 1864, when he was again in command of the 
division until relieved by General McArthur. November 22, 
1864, he mustered out of service on expiration of term and 
returned to Iowa where he engaged in business until 1869 
when he removed to Kansas. He was a member of Kansas 
Legislature; Receiver of the General Land Office; Regent of 
State University and held several other important offices. 
He died at his home at Montana, Kas. , September 27, 1889. 
A more complete sketch may be found in proceedings of 
the reunion of 12th Iowa, held at Sioux City, Iowa in 1892. 



246 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Colonel John H. Stibbs, Brevet Brig. Gen, U. S. V. 
was born in Ohio March 1, 1840; was one of the first men in 
Iowa to sign a muster roll for the War of the Recellion. His 
name was second on the roll of Company K 1st Iowa Infantry 
in which company he served as 1st Sergeant at Wilson's 
creek and all the marches of the 1st Iowa. Within a week 
after his discharge from the three months' service, he was at 
work recruiting a company for three years service and sue 
ceeded in enlisting a full company of which he was elected 
Captain. The company was accepted and mustered iuto the 
United States service as D, 12th Iowa Infantry. Captain 
Stibbs was in command of his company at Fort Donelson and 
Shiloh, and with them was captured and shared the fate of 
the prisoners of war. Upon the reorganization of the regi- 
ment he was commissioned Major, and upon the resignation 
of Lieutenant Colonel Edgington was promoted Lieutenant 
Colonel September 25, 1863. From that time he was con- 
tinuously in command of the regiment until February, 1865. 
The history of the regiment during that time is his history. 
He received special mention and was brevorted Colonel for 
services at Nashville; was mustered Colonel of the regiment 
September 18, 1865; breveted Brig. General April 20, 1866, 
and mustered out April 30, 1866. From February 1865, he 
served as a member of Court martial that tried Captain Wirtz 
and some other military prisoners. After leaving the service 
he was employed as agent of the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment and afterwards as Special Division Inspector of Pension 
office at Chicago where he is now employed. 



Lieutenant Colonel Samuel R. Edginton, was 
born near Mansfield, Ohio, May 12, 1827. At the age of 
18 he enlisted in 9th Ohio and served with that regiment in 
the Mexican war; was married to Miss Lois Deal in 1849; 
removed to Iowa in 1852 and was among the first settlers of 
Eldora, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1861, 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 247 

when he recruited Company A, of the 12th Iowa. At Shiloh 
he commanded the regiment after Colonel Woods was 
wounded and was taken prisoner with his regiment. Upon re 
organization of the regiment he was commissioned Lieutenant 
Colonel and almost immediately thereafter took command of 
the regiment retaining such command, most of the time, un- 
til August, 1863, when he resigned his commission and 
returned to his home at Eldora, Iowa, where he kept a hotel. 
He died May 20, 1888. 

See 12th Iowa Reunion pamphlet of 1888 for further par- 
ticulars. 



Lieutenant Colonel, Samuel G. Knee, Brevet Colonel 
U. S. v., was born in Martinsburg, Penn., March 11, 1834; 
removed to Deleware County, Iowa, in 1855, and worked at 
the carpenter's trade until the war broke out when he 
enlisted, September 19, 1861, in Company H, 12th Iowa, and 
was mustered in as 1st Sergeant of his company; was pro- 
moted 2nd Lieutenant November, 1862; Captain, September, 
1863; Major in December, 1864; Lieutenant Colonel in 1865, 
and Breveted Colonel U. S. V., July, 1866. He participated 
in the battles of Port Henry, Port Donelson, Shiloh, Jack- 
son, Seige of Vicksburg, Tupelo, Nashville and Spanish 
Port; was taken prisoner at Shiloh; confined at Montgomery, 
Selma, and Libby prison; was paroled at Aiken's Landing 
Va., Oct. 18, 1862. In 1864 he commanded the Pioneer corps 
of the 1st Division, 16tli Army corps and was commended 
for bis energy and skill in building, in one night, out of raw 
material, a bridge 600 feet long, over which the army passed 
without accident. He commanded the regiment most of 
the time from Pebruary 1865, to muster-out, January 20, 
1866. On muster-out of the regiment he returned to his 
home at Colesburg, Iowa, where he engaged in mercantile 
business. He married Miss Julia Moreland July 19, 1866, 
He died at his home, August 13, 1896, 



248 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Major Samuel D. Brodtbeck, was born in the city of 
Liestol, Switzerland, June 26, 1818. When only 12 years old 
he joined a company of sharpshooters, as trumpter, and 
served in a number of conflicts between his home district 
and Bale. In 1839 he entered the regular army of Switzer- 
land and in 1842 distinguished himself in several engage- 
ments and was commissioned Captain. He came to the 
United States in 1851 and two years later settled in Dubuque, 
Iowa, where he was for several years deputy County 
Recorder. In 185(3 he organized a Militia Company of which 
he was Captain. He was commissioned Major of Iowa 
Militia in summer of 1861, and placed in command of Camp 
Franklin, where the 9th Iowa was organized. When the 12th 
Iowa was being organized he was in command of Camp Union, 
and when the regiment was mustered in received his com- 
mission as Major of the regiment. He was present with his 
regiment at Benton Barracks, Fort Henry and Fort Donel- 
son. At Shiloh he was suffering from diarrhea and rheuma- 
tism contracted at Donelson and was unable for duty. He 
had tendered his resignation before the battle of Shiloh and 
it was accepted April 7, 1862. He returned to Dubuque and 
as soon as health was partially recovered, was commissioned 
Lieutenrnt Colonel on the Governor's Staff, and again placed 
in command of Camp Franklin, and organized and drilled the 
21st, 27th, 23d, 3sth, and 43d Iowa regiments. Failing 
health compelled him to abandon active labor in the spring 
of 1863. In 1867 he made an extended visit to his mother in 
Switzerland in the hope of regaining his health. He re- 
turned to this country and attended regimental reunion in 
1884, and soon after removed to California where he died 
January 21, 1997. 

Major Edward VanDuzee, was born in the town of 
FuUerville, St. Lawrence County, New York, April 19, 1835, 
Soon after his birth he removed with his parents to Scran- 
ton, Vt., and in 1851 to Buffalo, N. Y., and in 1852 to 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 249 

Dubuque, Iowa. He studied law with Bissell and Mills in 
Dubuque and was admitted to the bar in 1858. May 12, 1859, 
he married Miss Caroline E. Jones, and in 1860 removed to 
Augusta, Ga., to engage in business with his father-in-law. 
The intense excitement over the Presidential election made it 
impossible for him to remain in the South and he left Augusta 
March 4, 1861, and returned to Dubuque. He enlisted Sep- 
tember 14, 1861, and November 16th was commissioned Cap- 
tain of Company I, 12th Iowa. He was present in command 
of his Company at Port Henry, Port Donelson and Shiloh; was 
taken prisoner, and with the other officers of the regiment 
was confined at various prisons in the South. Prom Mobile 
he was sent to Selma, thence to Talladega, and returned to 
Selma where he was held about three months then 
sent to Atlanta, Ga., next to Madison, Ga., where he remained 
until October 7 th; then was sent to Libby prison and was 
paroled October 13, 1862, at Aiken's Landing, Va., and 
exchanged in November. About the middle of Pebruary, 
1863 he was detailed as Judge Advocate at Headquarters of 
Department of Missouri. In April he was relieved to join 
his company when it went South. He commanded his com- 
pany during all the marches and battles of the Vicksburg 
campaign. Near the close of this campaign he volunteered 
to defend Lieutenant Colonel Keeler of 35th Iowa, who had 
been arrested by General Sherman and charged with "allow- 
ing his men to set fire to a cotton gin." He secured the 
acquittal of Colonel Keeler and soon after was detailed as 
Judge Advocate of 3d Division 15th Army corps. August 
5, 1863, he was promoted Major of the regiment and as such 
participated in all the campaigns and battles in which the 
regiment was engaged until December 1, 1864, when he 
mustered out by reason of expiration of time of service. 
Major VanDuzee, a member of the Baptist church, was 
known through the service as a sincere, earnest, Christian 
soldier. After his muster-out he lived in Dubuque, Iowa, 
four years and then removed to Minnesota. He resides in 
St, Paul and is business manager for an insurance company. 



250 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Major David W. Keed, was born in Cortland, N. Y., 
April 2, 1841; removed, with his parents, to Iowa and settled 
on a farm in Allamakee County in 1855; entered Upper Iowa 
University in 1860, and on the 15th day of September 1861 
enlisted as a private in "University Recruits." This com- 
pany was mustered into the United States service October 
24th, as "C," 12th Iowa Infantry. He was present with his 
company at Port Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. After 
the regiment was surrounded at Shiloh he received gunshot 
wound, shattering the right thigh; was taken prisoner but was 
left on the field and was recaptured on Monday, and sent to 
the hospital at Mound City. In August he returned to duty 
with the Union Brigade and served with it in battle of 
Corinth and as Sergeant Major of that organization until 
January 1863. Upon the reorganization of the regiment he 
was elected 2nd Lieutenant of Company C, and was present 
with his company during the Vicksburg campaign and par- 
ticipated in all its engagements; was in command of his 
company August 1st to 10th; in command of Company P, 
August 10th to 31st, of Company C, September 7th to 24th, 
and of Company I, during the Brownsville expedition, October 
6th to 31st; was commissioned 1st Lieutenant December 14, 
1863, and in June 1864 was detailed as Acting Adjutant of 
the regiment and served as such in all the campaigns of the 
regiment until Pebruary 1865. At Tupelo his horse was 
killed under him, and at Nashville he led the left wing of the 
regiment in the capture of a battery of the enemy and 
received special mention by regimental and brigade com- 
manders. In Pebruary 1865 he was commissioned Captain of 
Company C, and was immediately detailed as Acting Pield 
Officer. In this capacity he served at Spanish Port and was 
breveted for gallantry in this engagement. Prom January 
to September 1865 he served as Inspector on the staff of 
General L. P. Hubbard. In October was detailed, with his 
company to garrison Center, Ala. ; was in command of that 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 251 

Post until November -when he was directed to take command 
of the Post of Blue Mountain. He was commissioned Major 
12th Iowa November 21, 1865, and was mustered out with his 
regiment January 20, 1866. On his return home he studied 
law and was admitted to the bar. in 1868, and the same year 
was elected County Recorder. He held that office ten years 
and in 1879 was appointed Postmaster at Waukon, Iowa, and 
held that office until 1887. He was Supervisor of Census, 
for 2d Iowa district, in 1890. He was married to Miss Ellen 
E. Manson in 1866; removed to Chicago January 1891. In 
1895 was appointed Secretary and Historian of the Shiloh 
National Military Park Commission. He has three children 
— a son and two daughters — the son, Milton E. Reed, is 
Lieutenant — Senior Grade — in United States Navy. 



Surgeon Charles C. Parker was born on a farm near 
New Richmond, Ohio, September 12, 1823; was educated in 
common school and in Clermont Academy, which was estab- 
lished in 1839 on the Parker homestead by the Doctor's old- 
est brother. He studied medicine at Columbus, Ohio, where 
he afterward held a professor's chair for a number of years. 
September 12, 1855, he located in Fayette, Iowa, and com- 
menced the practice of medicine. He was a trustee and active 
worker in the interest of the Upper Iowa University from 
the time it was established; was commissioned Surgeon of the 
12th Iowa October 25, 1861, and did excellent service for the 
regiment during the epidemic of measles at St. Louis and in 
care of the wounded at Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Disease, 
contracted during the exposure at Fort Donelson, compelled 
him to resign his commission April 19, 1862. He returned 
to Fayette and resumed the practice of his profession, and 
work in the interest of the university. He has held the office 
of Pension Examining Surgeon, and has always proved him- 
self to be a warm friend of deserving soldiers, 



252 , TWELFTH REGII\fENT IOWA INFANTRY 

Surgeon Sanford W. Huff was born in Hamburg, 
Erie Co., N. Y., December 25, 1826. His ancestors on his 
mother's side were Quakers; on his father's side could be 
traced through the Knickerbocker line to the earliest settle 
ment of his native state. He received a common school and 
academic education, and graduated at the medical college at 
Buffalo, N. Y., in 1851; was married to Miss Harriet Borland 
in 1853; removed to Iowa in 1857, and engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine at Iowa City; was commissioned Surgeon of 
the 12th Iowa August 19, 1862, and joined the regiment on 
its return from prison. He served with the regiment, or as 
Brigade or Division Surgeon, until January 20, 1866, when 
he was mustered out with the regiment and returned to 
Iowa, resuming the practice of his profession at Sigourney, 
Iowa. His wife died in 1862. He was again married, in 1H70, 
to Miss Laura S. Nickerson. He died at his home Friday, 
November 7, 1879. 



Assistant Surgeon Myron Underwood was born at 
Monticello, Ohio, August 7, 1833; graduated at Rush Med- 
ical College February 19, 1859, and soon after located at 
5'teamboat Rock, Iowa; removed to Eldora, Iowa, in July, 
1860; married Miss Sophia A. Ellis in 1861; was commis- 
sioned Assistant Surgeon of the 12th Iowa August 19, 1862, 
and joined the regiment on its return from prison. He was 
constantly with the regiment until the expiration of his term 
of service — September 15, 1865— when he returned to his 
home and resumed the practice of medicine. He was elected 
State Senator from the counties of Hardin and Grundy in 
1885. He died at his home in Eldora, Iowa, August 12, 1894. 
See 12th Iowa Reunion, October, 1894, for particulars. 



Assistant Surgeon James Barr was born in Larnark- 
shire, Scotland, July 25, 1836. At nine years of age he was 
apprenticed to the weaver's trade. Eight years later he 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 253 

came to the United States with his parents, and for a time 
worked in coal mines at Sharon, Pa. In 1856 he removed to 
Iowa, and in 1858 entered the Upper Iowa University; Sep- 
tember 15, 1861, he enlisted in the University Recruits, and 
in October was mustered in as Corporal of Company C, 12th 
Iowa Infantry. Soon after the organization of the regiment 
he was detailed for duty in regimental hospital, and served 
in that position, giving the sick and wounded of the regi- 
ment at St. Louis, Donelson and Shiloh excellent care. 
After the battle of Shiloh he was promoted Hospital Steward 
and served continuously with the regiment, re- enlisting as a 
veteran December, 1863. September 15, 1865 — just four 
years after his enlistment — he was commissioned Assistant 
Surgeon, in place of Underwood, mustered out. From that 
time to the muster-out Barr had entire charge of the sick of 
the regiment. Upon his return home he entered the office of 
Dr. C. C. Parker. He received his diploma from Rush Med- 
ical College in 1868, and soon after located at Algona, Iowa. 
He married Miss Salina M. Bradshaw in 1871. He and his 
wife were active members of the M. E. church and promi- 
nent in social affairs at Algona until 1894, when they removed 
to California, and are located at Los Angeles. 



Adjutant N. E. Duncan was born at Springhill, Pa , 
December 8, 1835; removed to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1854; en- 
listed in Company B, 1st Iowa, in 1861; was engaged in bat- 
tle of Wilson Creek; was mustered out at expiration of three 
months' term of enlistment, and returned to Dubuque Octo- 
ber 20th. He at once engaged in recruiting a company for 
three years' service, and on November 2, 1861, was commis- 
sioned Adjutant of the 12th Iowa. He served with the regi- 
ment at Fort Henry, Port Donelson and Shiloh; was wounded 
and taken prisoner at Shiloh, and remained a prisoner until 
October. During the Vicksburg campaign he was A. A, A. G. 
of 3d brigade, 1st division, 15th corps. In May, 1864, when 



254 7 WELFTH REGIMENT lO WA INFANTR Y 

the 12th was assigned to the 16th corps, Lieutenant Duncan 
was detailed as A. A. A. G. of the 1st division, 16th corps, 
in which capacity he served until September, when he was 
taken sick and sent to the hospital at Little Rock. Prom hos- 
pital was granted sick leave, and mustered out at expiration 
of three years' service, Nov. 27, 1864. He engaged in business 
in Dubuque several years, and then removed to Kansas 
City, Mo. 



Adjutant Sylvester R Bukch, Brevet Captain U. S. 
v., was born near Dresden, Ohio, March 1. 1S42; removed to 
Iowa in 1H58; enlisted in Captain Stibbs' company, D, 12th 
Iowa, September 11, 1862. He served with his company con- 
tinuously at Benton Barracks and Fort Henry; was sick 
when regiment went to Donelson, but returned to duty, and 
was, with his company, captured at Shiloh. was promoted 
Corporal January 10, 1863; re enlisted December 25, 1863; 
promoted Sergeant Major of regiment June 1, 1864; Adju- 
tant February 10, 1865, and Brevet Captain June 25, 1866. 
He was mustered out with the regiment January 20, 1866, 
and returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he farmed two 
years, and then removed to Olathe, Kas., and kept a hotel 
eighteen years; was twice elected Mayor; was appointed 
Postmaster in 1880, and in 1890 was Supervisor of Census; 
was afterward employed in Census office at Washington, 
and is now employed in Department of Agriculture, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 



Quartermaster Joseph B. Dorr, was born in Western 
New York August 25, 1825; removed to Buffalo in 1845 and 
to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1847; commenced the publica- 
tion of the Western Democrat at Andrew in 1849, and three 
years later removed to Dubuque and entered into partner- 
ship with D. A. Mahoney and published the Dubuque 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 255 

Herald. In 1855 he bought out his partner's interest in the 
Herald and published the paper alone until 1861. When the 
war broke out, his loyalty caused him to sink party and 
financial interests and tendered his services to the Governor 
of the State. He was commissioned Quartermaster of the 
12th Iowa November 5, 1861, and entered at once upon the 
discharge of his duties. He was with his regiment con- 
stantly until the battle of Shiloh when he was captured and 
confined at Macon, Ga. With Lieutenant Elwell of Company 
E, he escaped from prison and made his way to the Union 
lines. He then applied for and received authority to raise a 
regiment of cavalry in Iowa. He enlisted 1,700 men and on 
the 80th day of September 1863 "was mustered into United 
States service as Colonel of 8th Iowa Cavalry. During the 
summer of 1864 he was commanding his regiment in the 
Atlanta campaign. In one of the cavalry raids to the rear 
of Atlanta he was wounded, his regiment surrounded and 
nearly captured. Colonel Dorr refused to relinquish the 
command; ordered and led a charge which broke the enemy's 
lines and enabled a part of his regiment to escape. The 
wounded Colonel was captured and taken to Charleston, S. 
C, where he, with other officers, was placed under the fire 
of the Union guns, and remained there until October when 
he was exchanged and returned to his command. He was in 
active service in Tennessee and Georgia during the winter of 
1864-5. In this service he contracted disease of which he 
died, in the service. May 28, 1865. 



Quartermaster George H, Morisey, entered the 
service as private of Company H, 12th Iowa. September 16, 
1861; was mustered into the United States service Nov. 25, 
1861; as Sergeant Major of the regiment. He served faith- 
fully and gallantry at Forts Henry and Donelson; was cap- 
tured with the regiment at Shiloh and remained in prison at 
Mobile, Montgomery and Macon until October 8, 1862, 



256 TWELFTH REGIMENT IOWA INFANTRY 

when he was sent to Libby prison, Richmond, and from 
there paroled October 18, 1862. He was granted furlough 
and remained at his home untilJan. 3, 1863, when he rejoined 
his regiment at St. Louis. He was engaged with his regi- 
ment in the Vicksburg campaign, and on the 29th of May 
1863 was commissioned Quartermaster. July 11, 1863, he 
was sent out from Jackson, Miss. , in charge of a forage train 
and was captured and sent to Richmond, Va., where he was 
confined eleven months; was then sent to Macon, Ga., where 
he remained three months, until July 28, when he was sent 
to Charleston, S. C. , and placed under fire of the Union bat- 
teries where he remained two months, and was then sent to 
Columbus He escaped from prison at Columbus Nov. 29, 
1864, and made his way to Union lines, traveling only in the 
night and arrived at Knoxville, Tenn. — 400 miles from 
Columbus — January 7, 1865. His discription of the journey 
of forty nights is graphic and replete with adventures. He 
rejoined his regiment in the field in such feeble health that 
he was obliged to muster out February 12, 1865. He returned 
to his home at Manchester, Iowa, where he was for many 
years Recorder of Deeds. Recently he has been employed 
in Government services at Washington, D. C. 



Chaplain A, G. Eberhart was born at Greenboro, Pa., 
October 7, 1810; was ordained as a minister of the Baptist 
church in 1843; settled in Rock Island, 111., in 1850; removed 
to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1857; to Cedar Rapids in 1860; was 
commissioned Chaplain of the 12th Iowa November 5, 1861. 
He was taken sick at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, with a 
severe attack of lung fever, which compelled him to leave 
the service in April, 1862. He returned to Cedar Rapids, 
and afterwards served the church at Cedar Falls, Iowa; 
Plainfield, Joliet and Chicago, 111.; back to Waterloo, Iowa, 
and from there to Muscatine, Iowa, where he retired from 
the ministry in 1878, and died May 22, 1881. 



SKETCHES OF OFFICERS 257 

Chapi^ain Frederick Humphrey was born in Couls- 
ville, N. Y,; graduated at Hamilton College, was professor 
of mathematics at Iowa State University; was commissioned 
Chaplain of the 12th Iowa April 24, 1864; joined the regi- 
ment while on March to Tupelo in July; served with the 
regiment continuously until mustered out with the regiment, 
January 20, 1866. On his return to Iowa, was rector of 
Trinity church, Muscatine, Iowa; professor of Divinity 
School, Faribault, Minn. On account of ill health, he left 
the Northwest and became rector of old St. John's church, 
Havre de Grace, Md. 



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Monks, John 
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ERRATA. 

Page 51— The last lines on the page are fully explained in the report 
of Colonel Woods on pages 74 and 75. 

Page 65— Ninth line from the bottom; for Swain read Sawin. 

Page 66— Fourth line; for Philetus read Theophilus Eaton. 

Page 66 — In the last line of note at bottom of the page; strike out 
"Teskey and" making the line read: "that Hatfield and 
Cotes were wounded by the same bullet." 

Page 66 — Add note at bottom of the page as follows: ' Capt. T. B. 
Edgington and R. P. Clarkson both say that they know from 
personal knowledge and from diary kept at the time of the 
battle that Morau and Leffler were killed on the field, and that 
the following na^med members of Company A, in addition to 
those named above, were wounded at Shiloh: Sergt. T. B. 
Edgington, Corp. B. F. Ibaeh, Francis C. Cromwell, Eugene 

C. Coombs, George H. Cobb, Nelson Collins, Thomas Dorman, 
Ryei'son Kellogg, John Whitson, Asa M. Wickham, Asel J. 
Wickham." 

T. J. Lewis says: "I know that Corp. Henry W. Ross of Co, 

D, was wounded at Shiloh." 

These corrections in Companies A, D, and I, will add 2 to 
the known killed making 19, and 17 to the reported wounded, 
making 93 wounded. 
Page 290-Transferred July 16 and 19, 1865. 



"University Recruits" 
Company C. 



I2th Iowa Infantry. 



D. W, REED, 



"UNIVERSITY RECRUITS." 



Company C, i2th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 



Early in the summer of 1861. the students of Upper Iowa Uni- 
versitY at Fayette, Iowa, organized a company for drill, calling 
themselves "University Recruits," and resolved : "That when- 
ever the occasion demands it we will drop oiir books to fight our 
country's battles." Several members of this organization entered 
the service during the summer in the 3d and 9th Iowa, but at the 
opening of the fall term, Sept. 2, 1861, the company was still 
intact and daily drills on the campus were at once resumed. 

The call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men convinced the 
boys that the lime had come for them to carry out their resolu- 
tions, .and at a public meeting in University Chapel in the after- 
noon of September 15, 1861, twenty-three members enrolled their 
names and pledged themselves to answer the President's call for 
troops. One of those who signed the roll, after deliberation 
asked to be excused "because he had married a wife and could 
not go." Two joined other organizations, and one was rejected 
by the mustering officer. Nineteen became members of Company 
C, 1 2th Iowa. 

Immediately after enrollment all the members left school un- 
der an agreement that each should go to his own home on re- 
cruiting service and should return to Fayette in one week with 
recruits obtained. At the appointed time one hundred and one 
men, the full compliment allowed in a company, reported for 
duty and on the 28th, just thirteen days after the first name was 
signed to the roll, the service of the company was accepted by 
the Governor, and the company was ordered into quarters at the 
Fayette House, and commenced the regular routine of drill. The 
election of officers was had with result as follows : Captain, W. 
W. Warner; ist Lieutenant, D. B. Henderson; 2d Lieutenant, A. 



M. Smith ; Serg:eants. G. W. Cook, Gilbert Hazlet, Emery Clark, 
James Stewart; Corporals. David Conner, Thomas Henderson, 
P. R. Ketchum, S. F. Brush, J. F. Hutchins, D. D. Warner, G. 
L. Durno, James Barr. 

Twenty-two students leavinf^- the school in a bod\- made sail 
havoc with the classes and President Brush undertook to counter- 
act the patriotic tendencies of the students by writinp^ letters to 
parents urging them to use their parental authority and forbid 
the enlistment. His efforts were counteracted by the Preceptress, 
Miss E. A. Sorin. who gave the boys her sympathy; became their 
champion and remained their true friend during the war. A'r. 
better record of woman's devoted service to the Union can be 
shown than was shown by her in her interest for "her boys." 
Calling the young ladies of the University together she interested 
them in her ])lans and they purchased material and with their 
own hands made a beautiful flag for the company upon which 
they embroidered the name in full "l^niversity Recruits loi." 
This flag was presented to the company by Aliss Sorin in behalf 
of the ladies of the U. I. U. in a very patriotic and touching 
address as follows : 

TO THE UNIVERSITY RECRUITS. 

Address of IMiss Sokin on Presenting the Flag. 

In hchalf of the ladies of the Upper Iowa University, it has been 
made my pleasing duty to present to you, our brave Volunteers, the stand' 
ard of our Union. We feel that to you, who for its honor, have not 
counted your lives dear unto you. its Stars and Stripes, are a far more 
eloquent appeal for the right than mortal lips can address; yet, in part- 
ing from you we would fain add to its influence a word of sisterly 
cheer and encouragement. , 

It has been but a little while since some of you were attentively 
pursuing your studies, and others quietly attending to your daily voca- 
tions, little dreaming thus to change the current of your lives. Why 
have you gathered here? What has called you from the shop, the farm, 
the study? Our Government, the pride of every loyal American heart, 
is imperiled. You have listened to the coming storm, and as you have 
heard it breaking angrily iipon our borders, the blood of patriot sires 



has throbbed more quickly in your veins. Our Country has called as 
she alone can call and you have nobly responded. We honor you for it. 
We grieve to lose you, but we should be unworthy of you, did we bid 
you stay. No ! go like brave men, and may the Great Arbitrator of the 
fate of the Nation be your leader. As you go remember that not in your 
own right arm lies the strength that is to save you. Let our praying 
Washington be your model, and remember always that God only can re- 
ward your patriotism with success. 

Upon you, the officers, rests a high responsibility. By the voice 
of your company, you have been placed at their head. Let it be your 
effort to be to them in all things, leaders of their trust. Set them exam- 
ples of prompt obedience, prudent courage, and strict virtue. Let it 
never be said of you that you have, in any respect, been recreant to your 
duty. 

h'or you. Captain Warner, the only son of fond parents; the only 
brother of doting sisters, many a fervent prayer will ascend heaven- 
ward : and not from these only, from whom you could expect no less, but 
from the aching hearts of those whose sons, brothers and husbands are 
under your care, will daily be heard the ardent petition that wisdom and 
courage may be given you, for your post. Be a true friend to you men. 
Be true to yourself, your cause and your God ; and may heaven protect 
you in the discharge of your duty. 

But while we thus bid you all God's speed, our hearts tremble for 
you. We know that loneliness, weariness and pain are before you. 
In your hours of sadness you will miss the familiar tones of loved ones 
that have been to chase away your sorrow ; in sickness you will miss 
the loving care that alone can make suffering endurable. At times you 
may feel yourselves indeed desolate, and unhappy; but be of good 
courage, warm hearts are praying for you, and, when they are needed, 
willing hands will be found ready to minister to you wants. 

Death too, awaits you. We cannot hope to see you all again ; it 
would be strange indeed, if out lot could be so fortunate. Some must 
fall, let it be with your faces to the foe. And there is another fear that 
we cannot shake off. You cannot be exempt from the temptations in- 
cident to the camp. You are entering upon the life of peril ; will you 
make it also a life of prayer? There is one who can shield you from 
the power of temptation, and but one. 

Brothers with many of you we have trodden the steeps of science 
and pursued peacefully — happilv — the quiet ways of religion; may we 
not hope that in our now dividing paths, the remembrance of these pleasure 



seasons will be with you, as with sunny spots in life's picture. You 
leave us now ; wherever you go, remember there are hearts here that 
will yearn over you with an interest only less intense than that felt 
by the home circle you have so recently left. Our prayers and bles- 
sings shall follow you in all your wanderings; we shall rejoice in your 
prosperity and shall be afflicted in your sorrow. May the God of Nations 
strengthen your arms and encourage your hearts, and, above all, may 
He grant you that preparation for death which alone can support you 
in the hour of your extremity. God bless you all, friends, schoolmates, 
pupils. 

Take our Hag, and as it floats over you, sometimes give a thought 
to those by whom it has been presented. Proudly, confidently, we com- 
mit it to your keeping. We do not bid you guard it : we knoiv it is 
safe in your hands. As you have been proud to live under it, if death 
be your lot, may you die under its folds, and may God protect and pros- 
per you as you defend your colors. 

Captain Warner responded very appropriately as he received 
the flag-, btit we are unable to find that his response was pre- 
served. The position of 5th Serg-eant was*not filled at the time 
of election of other officers, but was by unanimous vote of the 
company left to the choice of the donors of the flag, with the 
understanding- that the one elected by them should be color 
bearer for the company. In a spirited contest, the secrets of 
which have never been fully revealed to the company, Henry J. 
Grannis was duly elected Color Bearer. It will not be inappro- 
priate to say here diat no election ever gave better satisfaction 
or proved more completely the wisdom of the electors. Upon the 
organization of the regiment this company was assigned as Color 
Company, Grannis was appointed as Color Sergeant and carried 
the colors of the regiment in every Ijattle in which the regiment 
was engaged during the war, and no one will sav that the flag of 
any regiment was ever more gallantly born, or that any Color 
Bearer in any war was more devoted to his trust than was the one 
elected by the ladies of the U. I. U. 

To finish the history of the flag : It was carried as Regi- 
mental Colors by the 12th Iowa and received its first baptism at 
Fort Donelson, February 13, 14 and 15, 1862, and was carried in 



5 

triumph into the fort February i6th. Its brigh\t folds waved 
over the stubborn line at the "Hornets' Nest" at Shiloh from 
morning- until late in the afternoon, inspiring its defenders with 
that heroic courage which enabled them to withstand the re- 
peated onsets of the enemy. The Army of the Tennessee was 
saved from defeat at Shiloh, but those who contributed most to 
prevent its defeat sacrificed themselves as prison,ers and were 
compelled to see their flag carried from the field a trophy of war. 
That those who gave the flag were satisfied with its defense is 
shown by their acts. One of the donors in an essay read at June 
Commencement says : 

Our Flag, by Miss Susie Sorin. 

* * * YYg ]Qyg ti^p Stripes and Stars, Freedom's red, white and 
blue. In peace we have hailed it with delight as the bond of our Union 
and the token of our prosperity and now when imperiled, yet triumphant, 
we turn our gaze upon it with the conscious pride and confidence that 
right inspires. 

* * * When we read the returns from the seat of war fraught with 
news both good and ill, we drop a tear for our lost friends, but we look 
aloft upon our banner of liberty and many and fervent are the prayers 
which arise to heaven for its protection. * * =1= ^g ^ school our pride 
in our Country's Flag is no idle boast, our roll has been diminished to 
augment the strength of our army. We grieve to part with our fellow 
students, but they loved our country and we bade them adieu, giving 
them God's blessing and the proudest gift we could bestow : Our Coun- 
try's Flag. We gave it to them knowing we were trusting it to the care 
of brave and true patriots. And have they failed to keep the charge? 
The flag that received its baptism of fire at Fort Donelson and at Pitts- 
burg Landing was waving in the advance for the lovers of freedom to 
follow, bears witness to the fidelity with which they have kept their 
trust. All honor to these who fought and fell around it. Nobly did 
they wrestle with the foe, but as the day wore away, kind heaven for 
one moment averted her face — the enemy rallied around the lessened 
numbers, and our school-mates were prisoners. Our Flag wrested from 
the grasp of those who prized it dearer than life. The sky looks dark, 
but away in the future the clouds seem breaking and through the rift 
we can descern the day of triumph for our country. 

We tender a heart-felt welcome to those who have returned and our 



Sympathies to those who, enduring the fate of war, tarry beneath a 
Southern sky, bidding them remember that "Captivity that comes with 
honor is true liberty." 

It is true that the flag that waved us adieu from yonder hill is ours 
no longer but the spirit whose utterance it was, is as free as the air of 
our prairies, and we but wait the word to fling forth again to the 
breeze : 

The Stars for our heroes 
The Stripes for our foes. 



Another of the U. I. U. at a later date says : 

SOLDIERS OF THE U. I. U. By L. Hattie S. Aldrich. 
I looked along its Southern slope. 

Grim shadows o'er the blue were cast 
Vast shadows with an ample scope 

Where peaceful and all so late 
We dwelt as sisters of one band. 

I heard a haughty voice of hate 
Come up from Carolina's strand, 

A rallying cry from State to State 
Re-echoed through the startled land. 

And then we saw our heroes go 

Our brave young heroes firm and blest 

With more of love than pride I know. 
For all their courage and their zeal 

They heard our blessing deep and low 
Who knew our yearnings for their weal. 

I heard the sound of fife and drum 

A faint, low prelude to the storm, 
A boast of chivalry ! "We come !" 

Struggled from brave hearts fresh and warm. 
The storm sweeps on and lips grow dumb. 

And stark and dead lay many a form. 
I hear the shriek of shot and shell 

With vengeful ire and pleading woe. 
The sullen guns, the rallying yell 

Now long and loud, then faint and low, 
The death orchestra of hell. 

And who shall win? But God can know. 



The growling cannon surging smoke 

The gapping ranks and eager fire, 
The serried plunge ; the brown walls break 

And proud eyes speak fulfilled desire, 
Long cheers the distant echoes woke 

As up our flag swept high and higher 
Fort Donelson is ours and then 

Fresh laurel crowns our heroes wore 
And braver boys and braver men 

Had never met to fight before 
Shall never meet to fight again 

On any land or any shore. 
When April came the Spring to greet. 

The battle spread her winding sheet 
On thy red sod, O ! Tennessee ; 

And laid our braves to their last rest. 
And then on Mississippi's shore 

I saw our armies brave and strong, 
I saw our gallant host once more 

Go out to meet and fight the wrong. 
A glorious conquering flag they bore. 

And well might ring the victor's song. 
And here on memory's fadeless page 

We trace with pride, each loyal deed, 
Each deed that in the coming age 

Shall win for them a soldier's meed 
And glorious things would we pressage 

For Lakin, Henderson and Reed. 
The battle done amid his dreams 

As on his weary couch he lay. 
The soldier clasped such blessed gleams. 

He saw the meadows far away 
His fond lips found gurgling streams 

In the cool silence of the day. 
And the old homestead just the .same. 

Swift happiness with no alloy ! 
For tender, loving sisters came 

With gentle words and smiles of joy. 
He heard his mother speak his name 

And blessed again her own dear boy. 



They bore the patriot hero home; 

Brave Warner! Idol of the brave! 
Where saddest hearts might make their moan 

Their prayers to Him who called, who gave. 
They laid him where the loved might come 

To weep above the grass-grown grave. 
But soldiers 'neath the Southern sod. 

That sod baptized with sacred gore 
Grim battle's iron hoof has trod, 

Above your rest forever more. 
The years shall come, the years shall go. 

Spread snowy wreaths where you have bled 
And watchful flowers shall bud and blow 

Above each lonely warrior's bed. 
But fallen martyr's, nations know, 

Your memories never can be dead, 
And they who fight as heroes fight. 

With hearts unflinching to the steel 
Against the wrong, firm in the right. 

With fearless courage. Spartan zeal, 
Tlicir names are set in lines of light 

United with our Country's weal. 
The maimed, the wounded and the true 

Who bear through life their honored scars 
Our patriot soldiers, boys in blue 

Who fight beneath our honored bars. 
Our grateful people give to you 

Its blessing, and a crown of stars. 
And when the morn of peace awakes 

And silenced is the battle roar, 
When light through all the darkness breaks. 

We'll welcome home the brave once more, 
We'll greet them for their own dear sakes 

When all this "Cruel War is O'er." 

History of "Our Flag" by Miss E. A. Sorin. 
My Dear Friend : 

I wish I could give you what you request, — what I would like for 
myself — a detailed account of the "inside history of that 'Dear Old 
Flag;'" but is it not generally true that the people who are making 
history are unconscious of it, and quiie too busy to note its phases? I 



know of no one who ever thought of preserving a record of the days 
and weeks immediately preceding and following the muster of the 
"University Recruits." Events followed each other in such rapid suc- 
cession ; events of such vast importance, that minor details soon grew 
comparatively faint in outline. For some of us this is truer than for 
others. Since I left the U. I. U.. I have had so much of care and respon- 
siliility, that many a picture that I would have been glad to preserve in 
the freshness of its coloring has been blurred and faded almost beyond 
recall. So you see it would be quite impossible for me to write the 
chapter you desire. I will however, give you such points as recur to me, 
only saying that I can give but few names of the girls .specially interested 
in the making of "Our Flag;" and it seems unfair to leave out one 
whose heart went in with her stitches in the red, white and blue. Names 
recalled are: Clara Warner, Susie Sorin, Maggie Kent (Paine), Lizzie 
Webster, Sue Quigley, Mary Cook, Miss Lovell, Lizzie Morgan (Davis), 
Lucy Updegraff, Celia Henderson (Drake), Katie Morley, Miss Knapp, 
/\da Smith, The Barber girls, The Preston girls, Clara Bell (Ellis). 

After the memorable meeting in the Chapel, when Warner reminded 
the young men of their pledge, given to each other, to respond in person 
to the next call for troops, the girls decided, whether in formal meeting 
of not, I cannot say, that they would be represented in the flag you should 
carry with you. 

I do not remember dates, but none of us can forget that when the 
girls sent word to the proper authorities that it was their intention to 
furnish the Flag, word was immediately returned in the form of a request 
that they would also nominate the Color Bearer. A meeting was at once 
called in the Ladies' Hall. The, Hall was full. After stating the ob- 
ject of the meeting nominations were called for. Whether these nomi- 
nations were first made by ballot or viva voce I am unable to say, but 
after canvassing the subject, its honors and its perils, and the candidates 
also, two names were selected for ballot : D. W. Reed and H. J. Grannis. 
Then the electioneering followed. The boys never knew the heart 
histories unfolded in that little room and I mustn't tell. I can almost 
feel even now the suspense that awaited the counting of the ballots. I 
guess I will not tell tales out of school by saying whose hearts were 
lighter and whose sadder by the announcement that Henry was elected, 
to what seemed to us the post of pre-eminent danger. I do not remem- 
ber in what way the action taken was communicated to the company, but 
I can never forget Henry's visit in person to thank the girls through me 
for the honor conferred. With swimming eyes he expressed his grati- 



10 

tude and pledged himself to stand by the colors. How well he redeemed 
his pledge you all know. 

I cannot remember whether the presentation was in forenoon or 
afternoon, but only a few hours before the presentation it was discovered 
that the flag was larger than regulation size. It was made at Maggie 
Kent's. The girls assembled there had done their best; the stripes had 
been carefully cut and precise directions given, but so many fingers 
were at work that some were at fault and now it must be reconstructed, 
correctly and quickly, — I think Clara Bell (Ellis) could give the history 
of that if she would. The work was completed in time, and the beau- 
tiful emblem with its embroidered stripe "University Recruits" was 
ready for the hour. What a stirring hour that was ; How bright the sun 
shone ! There are hours you know that are engraven on memory and that 
was one. I shut my eyes and see Captain Warner before me with the 
quiet dignity of manner that fell upon him like a mantle in the hour when 
he set his name to that enlistment roll in the Chapel, and that never 
left him from that hour. Glancing over his shoulder, I met the fixed 
gaze of Henderson's eye. I do not see another soul — not even Henry's. 
Oh ! we saw souls in those days, not people. How proud we all were at 
home when the news came back to us from Dubuque that the "University 
Recruits" was Company C, and was the Color Company of the regiment. 
We were sure there were no boys like you. How much prouder were we 
when we heard that "Our Flag" was first on the Ramparts of Donelson. 
But O ! what a dreadful chill came to our hearts with the news from 
Pittsburg Landing. Soon, however, gathering what comfort we could 
under the circumstances, we said : "Our boys are sure to be exchanged 
and we must have a flag ready for them when that time comes around. 
The second flag was prepared, and remembering that their had been 
some difficulty in arranging the stars upon the first field, Clara Warner 
and I made that part of the work our special business. For a guide 
we had before us a photograph of Jinimie Lakin's Company of 3d Iowa 
with its colors flying. This second flag, an exact duplicate of the first 
was presented to the company and carried to the end of the war. 

I was greatly surprised, and honored, when our Veteran Company C 
at its disbanding, voted "Our Flag" to me. In no way could they have 
shown their trust more warmly. I carried it about with me for years, 
never daring to leave it anywhere lest harm might befall it. It was, as 
you know, sent back and forth, between Grannis and myself, several 
times in order to be present at each gathering of the Company. 

When I left St. Louis, six years ago, I felt that I was going too 



11 

far away to be convenient to transfer the treasnre from time to time 
as we had been in the habit of doing. It was always my intention to 
leave the flag, by will, to Henry. And as it seemed to me that I was 
going to be bnried alive in the far West I thought it best to attend in 
person to the disposition of that piece of property, so I committed it 
to Henry's keeping. With him there could be no prouder treasure, 
and there is not a spot on earth where it would be safer. 

The return of the flag to Grannis, as mentioned above, was 

accompanied bv the following letter: 

San Francisco, Cal., May 4th, 1887. 
Soldier Friends of Company "C." 

In imagination I look into your faces today as you gaze again upon 
the worn flag that's dear alike to you and me. 

While I think of it and you. memory hastily turns the pages of the 
past. Here is the hushed gathering in the chapel of the University when 
the gallant Warner presented the muster-roll, with bated breath, we, 
who were to be left behind, watched one after another deliberately sign 
the paper that devoted his life to his county. 

Another leaf: Under a cloudless sky, whose blue was the emblem 
of your own truth, it was my signal honor, in behalf of the girls of the 
U. I. U. to commit to your keeping, your first flag, inwrought with many 
a fond wish and fervent prayer for your safety and speedy return. 

Another, a double page: Donelson: Up the ramparts we see you 
pressing, and now upon the summit waves "Our Flag" in Henry's hands. 
Shiloh : Stern fighting, a weary march, aching hearts, here and there 
outlined are enough to fill them up with pain. You met and endured the 
chances of war. To those who survived the terrible trials of Anderson- 
ville and Libby. in due time came the second trust of loving hearts and 
ready hands, the Flag before you. 

At the close of the war, when as veterans you disbanded at Daven- 
port you did me the honor to vote to me this most precious token of 
your friendship. With what gratitude I received it, and with what 
feelings I have preserved it I cannot express. It has been my proudest 
possession, often has it been exhibited to my friends, both West and 
East, and with it told the story of Co. "C" It has also been my pleasure 
repeatedly to send it by express to your standard bearer for use in your 
reunions. Notwithstanding this I have often thought I ought to trans- 
fer the flag, not my interest in it, that I never will, to its long time 
bearer, both because he deserves the possession and because when you 
need it it will be more readily available, 



12 

Since circumstances have determined mj^ removal to a distant part 
of the Union I transfer the flag the more willingly, assuring you that 
its change of base is influenced only by the motives I have mentioned. 
Cherishing warmly the memory of your trust, I replace the flag where 
it ought to be, in the hands of your honored standard bearer, Henry 
Grannis. No one loves it better, no one more deserves it. God Bless 
it and you, 

Sincerely your friend, 

E. A. SORIN. 

The "University Recruits" remained in quarters at Fayette 
House, drilling, until October i6th when, at 8 a. m., the company 
was paraded on the campus and many assembled friends passed 
along the line and bade each one good-bye, and the company 
marched away to the hill south of town where seventeen wagons 
were waiting to convey the boys to Independence. As the com- 
pany marched from the campus and until it disappeared from 
sight over the hill, the friends continued to wave their adieu.s 
while some one, more zealous than thoughtful, set the old uni- 
versity bell tolling as if it were a long farewell, as, indeed, it 
proved to be to many of those who marched so gallantly awa>' 
that bright October morning. 

The company arrived at Independence about 4 p. m. and was 
lodged at \\niite's Plotel until next morning at 9 o'clock when it 
was transported to Dubuque by railroad. And was escorted by 
Companies A and H to Camp Union, where it was assigned to 
quarters in rough-board barracks. 

On October 24, 1861, the Company was duly mustered into 
the United States service for three years or during the war as 
Company C, 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, total rank and 
file 100. 

From that day until late in the fall of 1865 the history of Com- 
pany C is identical with the history of the regiment. It served 
constantly with the regimental headquarters and participated in 
all the battles, skirmishes and marches of the regiment. 

Captain Warner was very sick while at St. Louis and was 



13 

granted leave of absence about Jannarv i. 1862. Lieutenant 
Henderson commanded tbe company until the battle of Fort 
Donelson, February 15, 1862. when he was severely wounded in 
chin and throat bv a musket ball and in shoulder by a piece of 
shell. He refused to leave the field until forcibly carried off by 
his brother. Others of the Company wounded at Fort Donelson 
were: W. B. Warner, severely, leg- amputated; W. W. Quivey, 
slig^htly. Lieutenant Smith commandicd the company, after 
Henderson was wounded, until Warner's return about March ist. 

Captain Warner commanded the company at Shiloh and was 
taken prisoner with 39 of his company. The casualties in the 
companv at vShiloh were, killed: Corporal Thomas Henderson, 
Charles Pendleton, and Charles Larson. Missinp^ never heard of, 
supposed to have been killed, Georq;e W. Grannis. Wounded, 
Serg-eant G. W. Cook, slip^htlv in shoulder. Corporal P. R. 
Ketchum, severely in thig'h ; Hcnrv Georj^e, severely in leg'; J. 
Wilson Kinf^', slij^htly ; Frank W. Afoine, severely in face : A. P. 
Munger, severely in thig-h ; D. W. Reed, severely in thigh. All 
these wounded were prisons over night but were abandoned or 
paroled within a few days, except Cook and King who were 
held as prisoners of war about eight months. 

Lieutenant Henderson, returning from hospital April 6, too 
late to participate in the battle of that day, commanded the 
remnant of the companv on A]')ril 7, and during the seige of 
Corinth. He served as Adjutant of the Union Brigade at the 
Battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862, and was severelv 
wounded, causing amputation of the foot. Others wounded at 
Corinth were : N. H. Spears severely in hand ; A. L. Kellev, 
severely in thigh : Daniel Stone, severely in groin. There was no 
commissioned officer of the company present with the command 
from October 4, 1862, to the reunion of the reginient at St. 
Louis in April, 1863. Lieutenant Henderson resigned in Febru- 
arv. 1863, and G. W. Cook and D. W. Reed were promoted 
lieutenants. 



14 

Henderson's farewell to the company and the response were 
as follows : 

Henderson Prairie, Iowa., March 8, 1863. 
Dear Comrades : 

To me, parting with you is painful ; but parting from you without 
a few words of farewell is impossible. 

About seventeen months ago, one hundred of the patriotic young 
men of Northern Iowa left the comforts of cheerful homes and became 
a sterling band of brothers, whose earnest wish was to dare, suffer, yes 
die in the defense of their beloved country. All of this they have en- 
dured ; privations, suffering, death, and now that gallant one hundred is 
cut down to half the original number, having lost here and there a noble 
heart, in prison, hospital, or bloody field. The track of the 12th Regi- 
ment is marked by the graves of our gallant band. Disease and wounds 
have also done their part to disable your comrades and decimate your 
lanks. Comrades, I can say that wherever duty called "Company C", 
there is was found. Your past precedent of heroic manliness bespeaks 
for your laurels in the future that can only deck the brow of the truly 
brave and upright soldier. And although I must now part with fellow 
soldiers, who will be ever dear to my heart, yet in spirit I can never be 
separated from those brave men with whom I have shared the toils of 
camp and march and the dangers of battle. Is there one of you who 
falters in meeting the dangers which beset you while supporting our 
dear old flag and beloved country? I know you, my comrades, and can 
see plainly in those flashing eyes the answer, "No !"' It is useless for me 
to say how much I am disappointed because I cannot longer remain with 
you. I have encountered disappointments before, but this is my great- 
est. To me you are a little band of heroes, brothers, with whom it was 
my proudest wish to live or die or to return again to a peaceful country 
and our welcome homes. 

Fear not for the future! The Government will be maintained and 
a happy day awaits you. God bless you all, brave hearts ; and grant 
this one request : remember kindly he who remembers you in love. 

D. B. Henderson. 



Lieutenant Henderson : Camp Benton, Mo., March 21, 1863. 

Our Very Dear Friend: 

With hearts full of sorrow we have received your words of cheer 
and farewell. How often have we reverted to those hours of hope when 
we banded together and offered ourselves for our Country's service. 



15 

Most severe has been many of the scenes through which we have passed. 
When first we were called upon to stem the tide of battle on the bloody 
field of Donelson, we remember it was you who led us in that fearful 
charge. With that undaunted courage which marks the true officer, 
you cheered us on, inspiring in us confidence and determination ; but 
you fell dangerously wounded, and we saw you covered with blood, 
borne from the field, your face still radiant with hope and courage ; 
then more fiercely we rushed on to the conflict to revenge yon, our 
leader. Victory was ours, but it gave us not back Lieutenant Henderson. 
Since then some of us have never seen you. When you had recovered 
from your wounds and come back to us, zve had bowed to the destiny of 
war. Another conflict had swept over us, and zvc were prisoners. A few 
of our brave boys who remained, you gathered together and led through 
the tedious marches succeeding. Then a dangerous disease seized upon 
you and carried you almost to the portals of death ; but with a deter- 
mined spirit you rallied your wasted energies and with renewed vigor 
rushed again into the dangers of battle. 

On that memorable day, the 4th of October, when leading on your 
band amidst the thickest of the conflict, again you fell with a fearful 
wound, from which you suffered so many days, weeks and months of 
most intense agony and finally the loss of your foot. 

Our hearts are all very, very sad over your great loss, and filled with 
deepest regrets when we are conscious that we must lose you from our 
band; that no more will your joyous face shed its benigned smile upon 
us. No more will your deeds of valor redound to our glory. No more 
will your words of cheer stimulate when sorrow and hardship surround 
us. Your disappointment is great, and ours is also great. We have 
lost a cheerful companion, a loved fellow soldier, and a brave, efficient 
ofiicer, one in whom we all felt the fullest confidence. Although you are 
no longer to mingle in our sports, our hardships and marches, still rest 
assured we shall ever think of you as when you were with us, and it is 
a source of great pleasure to know that zvc shall be remembered by you. 
We feel conscious that centered in you we each have a friend. You and 
your many kind ofiices will ever be remembered by us, and when these 
days of conflict are over and we return to our peaceful homes we shall 
know that you stand ready to welcome us with the full sincerity of your 
noble soul. May God bless you in your affliction with heaven's richest 
blessings. 

We shall all ever remember you in love. 

W. W. Warner, 
In behalf of Co. C, 12th Iowa, 



16 

Captain Warner commanded the company during all of the 
Vicksburo- campaign, and was wounded in wrist by piece of 
shell June 4, but did not relinquish the command. The other 
casualties in the company at Vicksburg were : Norton T. Smith, 
killed May 18; Edward H. Adams, wounded severely June 8, 
leg- amputated ; Daniel McCall, wounded slightly May 27. 

Captain Warner died at Memphis, Tenn., December 12, 1863, 
and Captain Cook was in command of the company from that 
time until he was mustered out, December i, 1864. During the 
time the company was engaged at battle of Tupelo where its loss 
was : Sergeant Emery Clark, wounded severely in neck, felt 
on field for dead, was taken prisoner and confined at Anderson- 
villc until the end of the war ; Sergeant James Stewart, wounded 
severely in arm; John W. McCall, wounded slightly. 

At the time of musterout of Captain Cook, Lieutenant Reed 
was acting as Adjutant, this left the company in command of 
1st Sergeant W. L. Henderson during the battle of Nashville, 
Tenn., and never was the company more gallantly commanded 
than at that battle. The casualties were : Corporal David Con- 
nor, mortally wounded ; George A. Burroughs, slightly, and 
Benjamin Delezene and I. L. Jordan, severely wounded. 

Soon after the battle of Nashville, D. W. Reed was com- 
missioned Captain and W. L. Henderson was commissioned ist 
Lieutenant. Reed was at once detailed as Eield Officer of the 
regiment and acted in that capacity or on detached service, stafif 
duty or court martials, most of the time to the end of the war, 
leaving Lieutenant W. L. Henderson in command of the company 
at Spanish Fort and other stations occupied by the company in- 
cluding Montgomery, Selma and Talladega. 

On the 8th day of October, 1865, an order was received as fol- 
lows : "Captain D. W. Reed, Company C, 12th Iowa Inft. Vols., 
is hereby assigned to duty with his company to Garrison Center, 
the county seat of Cherokee County, Ala. 

He will report for instructions at these headquarters at 4 
p. m. to-morrow. 



17 

The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary 
transportation. 

By order of T. C. Moore, Lt. Col. Comd'g. 
District of Talladega." 

Under this order the company left Talladega Monday, Oc- 
tober Qth, by rail to Blue Mountain, and marching from there 
reached its destination on the nth. Captain Reed assuming 
command of the garrison. His general instructions were to col- 
lect Government property, which had been scattered through that 
country during Atlanta campaign ; assist planters and the freed- 
men in adjusting contracts for labor and maintain the peace gen- 
erally. As prn'ofe instructions he was directed to secure the 
arrest of one Daniels, Sheriff of the County, who was accused of 
having murdered a U. S. soldier and was in hiding in the vicinity 
of Center. 

Information was received one night that Daniels was at his 
home. A guard was stationed and at about 4 o'clock in the morn- 
ing Daniels was arrested as he was leaving the house and 
brought to the Captain's quarters. On his person was found a 
silver-mounted revolver, marked "Presented to Lt. Col. Chas. F. 
Manderson, 19th Reg. O. V. I., bv the officers of the regiment." 
The revolver was taken and inquiry made of Adjutant General 
of Ohio for the address of Col. Manderson. In answer Reed was 
informed that said Manderson had been mustered out of service ; 
had left the state for some place in the west, address unknown. 
Years afterwards Reed saw the statement, "Chas. F. Manderson 
has just been elected U. S. Senator from Nebraska." He at once 
wrote to inquire if this was the same Manderson who was 
Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Ohio. Receiving answer that it 
was the same, the revolver was sent to the newly-elected senator, 
who acknowledged receipt and said, 'T am very glad to get the 
revolver and am now anxious to find its mate. There was a pair 
of them captured from a baggage train by Joe Wheeler's com- 
mand in rear of Atlanta." About a year later Senator Mander- 



18 

son wrote: "I have found tlie other revolver. Yestertlay I was 
called to reception room and was introduced to General Joe 
Wheeler and Rep. Reves from Alabama, after some inquiry as to 
my identity Mr. Reves handed me the mate to the revolver you 
sent me and said he received it from one of Wheeler's men who 
captured it. General Wheeler told of the raid and capture of the 
train, and I told them how I was returning- to the front from 
absent, wounded ; had left the train and my bag^'age to take a 
short cut across the mountains when the train was captured and 
my baggage with it." 

The incidents, altogether, are romantic and would make a 
chapter by itself. Daniels was taken to Montgomery ,under 
guard ; turned over to the authorities for trial ; what was the 
result is not known to this writer. While under guard he re- 
marked : "You men belong to the 12th Iowa; I belonged to the 
1 8th Alabama and was one of the guard that marched you off 
the field at Shiloh ; now you have me under guard." 

The company enjoyed its stay at Center very much and 
formed many friendships with the people who were pleased to 
say that our boys were all gentlemen and treated the citizens 
much more civilly than some of their own soldiers had been in 
the habit of doing. 

During our stay at Center there was attached to the com]>any 
temporarily as couriers, five men of Company G under com- 
mand of that model soldier Corporal Henry Steen. These men 
by their tYue soldierly qualities, their prompt and ready execution 
of orders, their neatness in dress and appearance won the love 
and esteem of the men and officers of Company C and are always 
referred to as part of our command. 

On the 26th of November the following order was received : 
"All troops stationed at Center, Alabama, will be withdrawn, 
with the exception of twenty enlisted men, in charge of a Lieuten- 
ant, and two mounted men of Company G, 12th Iowa, to act as 
couriers. Captain Reed with the remainder of the troops will 



i 

19 

rc])ort at Jacksonville at once to command Post of Blue Moun- 
tain." 

Leavino- the twenty men under Lieutenant Henderson in 
cliarqe at Center. Captain Reed reported at Jacksonville on the 
2gth and assumed command of the post which embraced the 
counties of Calhoun, Cherokee and Randolph, with headquarters 
at Jacksonville, and orarrisoned by three companies, C. E. and F. 

The company remained in service at the two points until 
December 24th, when orders were received to withdraw all the 
troops, abandon to civil authority all the country embraced within 
these counties and report to General Cheatlain at Talladcgj^a. 
The company rejoined the regiment and on Christmas day 
started for Memphis v.'here we arrived Januarv 2, 1866. Com- 
pany C went into quarters as Provost guard at the corner of 
Madison and 2nd Street where it remained until January 20th, 
when it was mustered out and ordered home. 

Skctclies of personal histories of Company Officers, as far as 
they can be obtained, are as follows : 

WiLi.iAM Wallace Warnkr, first Captain of Company C, 
was born in Wadsworth. Medina County, Ohio, February g, 
1836, where he lived with his parents until he was twelve years 
old, when the possibilities of the great west attracted his parents 
to Iowa, then quite the limit of civilization. 

His boyhood presented the characteristics usual to the Amer- 
ican youth ; attending school during the winter and assisting 
with the farm work during his vacation. Not only did he per- 
form manual labor, but also became thoroughly acquainted with 
his father's business and shared all the responsibilities attendant 
upon life in a new country When he was about nineteen years 
old he began to appreciate the worth of a thorough education, 
and resolved to make the acquirement of an education the chief 
aim of his life. Iowa had not, at that time, developed her system 
of public schools and colleges, and he returned to his native state 
and entered the Methodist University at Berea, Ohio. Being the 
only son, and realizing that he was much needed at home he re- 



20 

turned a^fter an absence of one school year. The following 
winter the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, was ready for stvi- 
dents and he became a member of that school, but his college 
course was interrupted by frecjuent vacations when extra farm 
work called him home, or when obliged to teach in order to 
provide funds necessary to continue his college course. He had 
just entered his senior year when his country demanded his 
services and to him the call of his country was the call of duty. 
He informed his family of his decision and although he was an 
only son and brother, his parents and sisters sympathized and 
aided him in all his plans, and when some one pitied the loyal 
mother because she was called to part thus with her only son, 
she replied with true Spartan courage, "I pity the mother whose 
sons are not willing to make the sacrifice and I would that I had 
a dozen such sons that I might give them all to their country." 

On the 15th of September, 1861, W. W. Warner's name, to- 
gether with a number of other students, was signed to the muster 
roll. He and his classmate, D. B. Henderson, at once com- 
menced holding meetings at Clermont, Elgin and other places, 
seeking recruits for the company. So successful were they that 
on the 25th the company was declared full. 

At the election of officers, Warner was unanimously elected 
Captain of the Company and received orders to place his com- 
pany in quarters and commence regular drills. 

The company was ordered to Dubuque and on the 24th of 
October was mustered into the United States service as Company 
C, 1 2th Iowa Infantry. 

While in camp at Benton Barracks, Missouri, January, 1862, 
Captain Warner was/ taken sick and grew rapidly worse until 
it was evident that a change of climate and diet must be had and 
he was sent home on sick leave and rejoined his company at Fort 
Donelson about March ist. 

He was in command of his company at Shiloh and was, with 
them taken prisoner. Extracts from an account of Warner's 
prison life written by his sister, Mrs. M. A. Loomis, are as fol- 



21 

lows : "The men had been fighting all day and had scacely tasted 
food. Their captors took them to a corn field not far away where 
they stood all night in a drenching rain. The next day they were 
marched to Corinth and loaded into box cars and sent to Memphis, 
where they were quartered in a warehouse and furnished the 
first food the enemy had provided. At Talladega the ofificers 
were confined in the college building and succeeded in picking 
the lock and gaining admission to the college library from which 
books were secured that furnished them with mental food, almost 
necessary to their existence, and served to divert their minds 
from their sufiferings and from the pangs of hunger. From one 
of their prisons Captains Earle and Warner attempted to escaoe. 
They procured citizen's clothing, passed through a scuttle to 
the roof; Icl themselves down to an adjoining building and made 
their way some distance along connecting roofs until they found 
a wav to the ground ; they walked thirteen miles, then took the 
cars, telling the conductor that they were Confederate soldiers 
returning to their regiments from sick leave. They had rode 
some distance, and had become confident that they were to suc- 
ceed when a Rebel officer, who had been connected with the 
I)rison guard, came into the car and recognized Captain Earle 
by his flowing beard and had them arrested at once and returned 
to prison. Soon after, with thirteen others, they planned another 
escape and worked incessantly day after day on a tunnel which 
passed under the guard line and to a fence surrounding the 
l)rison. The tunnel was at last completed and arrangements 
made for leaving the prison. Captain Warner was to go first 
and was to remove a board from the fence and pass out. He at- 
tempted to pull the board ofif when a nail squawked ; the guard 
heard it and the plot was discovered, an alarm raised, the old cellar 
searched and the whole party arrested and confined in a small, 
negro ])rison, twenty-one days with just enough food to sustain 
life. The air was so foul, the place so cramped that when they 
were finally removed from the dreadful den, some of them could 
not walk but were obliged to crawl out on their hands and knees. 



22 

On the 13th of October. 1862, the officers were paroled. Captain 
Warner had been home bnt a few days when he learned that his 
men were in St. Lonis withont money or clothing; many of them 
not able to procure writing^ material for letters to their home. 
He at once went to their relief and succeeded in procuring pay 
and clothing for them. 

While before Vicksburg he was wounded in the arm and was 
urged to procure leave of absence and endeavor to recruit his 
health which had not been good since his experience in prison. 
While in the field near Vicksburg he wrote: May 21st, "I have 
not undressed this month, and have not washed my face and 
hands but twice in a week. T have heard men ofifer 25 cents for 
a canteen of water, at that rate water is too expensive for face 
washing." Early in October he succeeded in obtaining a short 
furlough hoping to recover his health but there was little time for 
improvement. His parents and sisters saw that fearful inroads 
had been made on his constitution and urged him to resign or at 
least ask an extension of his leave but he put aside all personal 
considerations and returned to his regiment, but was soon 
obliged to go to hospital at Memphis, Tenn., where he died. 
December 12, 1863. After many weary delays his father reached 
Mem])his to learn that twenty-four hours before his arrival death 
had taken his onlv son. Lieutenant Reed accompanied the 
stricken father to the desolate home and Captain Warner wa!«. 
laid to rest at Clermont, awaiting the glad time when wars shall 
have ceased and the Prince of Peace shall have come to reign 
and shall give a truer crown than anv wreath that man can wear. 



Gkorge W. Cook, second Captain of Company C, was a 
native of Ohio, born in 1838. He was a member of the senior 
class in Upper Iowa University, a member of the University Re- 
cruits and as such entered the service September 15, 1861. Upon 
the organization of the company he was elected ist Sergeant; 
was present with his company at Ft. Donelson ; was wounded and 
taken prisoner at Shiloh ; exchanged November 10, 1862. While 



23 

in prison he was commissioned 2d Lieutenant, vice Smith resigned, 
and in February, 1863, was commissioned ist Lieutenant, vice 
Llenderson, chscharged for wounds. He was present with his 
company during the X^icksburg campaign, and upon the death of 
Captain Warner was commissioned Captain December 14, 1863. 
He commandedi his company from that time, inchuHng Battle of 
Tupelo, until December i, 1864, when he mustered out at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., on expiration of original term of enlistment. He 
returned to his home in Clayton County, Iowa, and was soon 
after elected County Superintendent of Schools and held that 
ofifice several years and then removed to Medicine Lodge, Kansas. 



David W. Reed, third Captain of Company C, was born in 
Cortland. N. Y., April 2, 1841, removed to Iowa in 1855, enlisted 
in University Recruits September 15, 1861, was wounded and 
left on the field at Shiloh. Elected 2d Lieutenant April i, 1863; 
1st Lieutenant December 14, 1863; Captain January 25, 1865; 
Major by brevet April 9, 1865, and Major of Regiment Novem- 
ber 21, 1865. He served as Acting Adjutant of the Regiment 
during the year 1864 including the battles of Tupelo and Nash- 
ville, and as Acting Major at Spanish Fort. Served on Court 
Martial at Selma, Ala., from May 29, 1865, to July 6, 1865, when 
he was appointed on General L. F. Hubbard's staff as inspecter 
of 2d Brigade McArthur's Division, and served as such until the 
muster out of Hubbard's Brigade September 7, 1865. He com- 
manded Garrison at Center, Ala., and Post of Blue Mountain, 
until December 24, 1865, and was mustered out with his regi- 
ment January 20, 1866. 



William L. Henderson, fourth Captain of Company C, was 
born in Old Deer, Aberdeen Shire, Scotland, March 28, 1833 ; 
came to America in 1846 and located in Iowa in 1849. He mar- 
ried Clara J. Durno, March 2'j , 1856; enlisted in Company C, 
September 22, 1861 ; was present with his company at Fort 
Donelson ; a member of t'he Union Brigade during siege of 



24 

Corinth and Battle of Corinth October 3 and 4, 1862 ; was pro- 
moted I St Serg-eant April i, 1863. and as such served at Jack- 
son, Miss., Siege of Vicksbiirg, Siege of Jackson, Brandon, 
Tupelo, Miss., and at Nashville, Tenn., where he commanded the 
company and soon after received deserved promotion as ist 
Lieutenant, in which capacity he commanded the company most 
of the time until mustered out January 20, 1866. He was com- 
missioned Captain Company C, November 22, 1865, but owing 
to rediuced numbers was not allowed to muster in. 



Upon his discharge from the service he returned to his farm, 
but, finding his health impaired he removed to LeRoy, Minn., 
and engaged in business. In 1896 failing health compelled him 
to relinquish business and seek a change of climate ; first in Mich- 
igan then in California. Obtaining no relief he returned to Iowa 
where he died at the home of his son in Riceville, Iowa, June 19, 
1897. He leaves a wife, two sons: T. Judson and Frank L. and 
two daughters, Mrs. C. J. Ramsey and Mrs. S. R. Johnson. His 
funeral and burial at Postville, Iowa, was attended by several 
members of Company C, who draped his casket with "Our Flag" 
and bore it to the grave. 

Resolutions published by the Loyal Legion of Iowa, of 
which he was a member, truly says: "No better soldier ever 
fought under his country's flag. Brave without rashness, he 
shrank from no danger or hardship, but obeyed the orders of his 
superiors without a question and was never known to complain 
at his lot, or seek to evade a distasteful duty. As an officer he 
was kind, faithful and true; greatly loved by his men, an(\ re- 
spected by his associates. Subordinate himself, he expected his 
men to be the same, and never found it necessary to argue the 
question of obedience. With him it was : 'Boys we arc detailed 
for duty ; fall in.' And with that discussion ended. 

No purer man as soldier and citizen has ever lived. His con- 
duct and conversation were always above reproach. No one ever 
heard him utter a profane or impure word or indulge in language 



25 

that might not have been used in the presence of his wife and 
dauohters. In all the vexations of over four years of hard 
campaigns these most closely associated with him have no re- 
membrance of impulsive or hasty words from him which could 
cause regret or which they would wish to have recalled. Judg- 
ing by these fruits we are persuaded that he has received the re- 
ward promised to the pure in heart, and we shall ever hold 
enshrined in our memories the record of his life, as that of one 
in every way worthy of imitation, and his example as one that 
mav be safelv followed." 



David Bremner Henderson, ist Lieutenant Company C, 
was born at Old Deer, Scotland, March 14, 1840; came with his 
parents to Illinois in 1846 and to Iowa in 1849; settled on a farm 
on "Henderson Prairie," Fayette County. On this farm he grew 
to manhood and having completed the common school course 
entered the Upper Iowa University where he helped to organize 
the "University Recruits" and with that company was mustered 
into the United States service October 24, 1861, as ist Lieutenant 
Company C, 12th Iowa. He commanded his company at Fort 
Henry and Fort Donelson until February 15. 1862, when he re- 
ceived severe wounds in chin and throat and shoulder and was 
carried from the field. On his return to duty he arrived on the 
field of Shiloh during the battle of the 6th but was unable to find 
his command. On the 7th he organized the remnant of 12th 
Iowa into a company and reported, with the company, for duty 
to Colonel Tuttle and with that command did good service. As 
commander of a company in the "Union Brigade" he served 
through the campaign of Siege of Corinth. As Adjutant of that 
organization he was engaged in Battle of Corinth October 3 and 
4, 1862, receiving on the 4th a wound in the foot which com- 
pelled amputation. He resigned his commission as Lieutenant 
Company C, March 23, 1863. His farewell letter to the company 
is published in connection with company history. 

In May, 1863, he was appointed commissioner of the Board 



26 

of Enrollment of the Third District of Iowa, serving as such 
until June, 1864, when he re-entered the service as Colonel of the 
46th Iowa Infantry and served as such until mustered out. He 
was Collector of Internal Revenue of the 3d District of Iowa 
from November, 1865, until June, 1869, when he resigned and 
became a member of the law firm of Shiras, VanDuzer & Hen- 
derson at Dubuque, Iowa ; was Asst. U. S. District Attorney for 
the Northern District of Iowa about two years, resigning in 
187T ; was elected to the 48th Congress and served his constitu- 
ents so acceptably that he has been returned to each succeeding 
Congress and has never had an opponent in convention. He was 
permanent Chairman of Iowa Republican State Convention in 
1886 and 1888, and delegate at large to the National Republican 
Conventions of 1888 and 1896, being on both occasions Chair- 
man of the Iowa Delegation. In 1880 he was Chairman of the 
lUaine Committee composed of one member from each State of 
the Union. He was elected Speaker of the 56th Congress ; re- 
elected in the 57th to this exalted position, second only in influence 
and importance to the President of the United States. Standing 
thus, in i)ublic life, among the foremost men of the Nation, he is in 
private life most genial and companionable ; strongly attached to 
his friends, and faithful to every obligation. He is an orator of 
remarkable power, possessing a strong sympathetic voice and 
great personal magnetism. In Congress he has always been the 
champion of the old soldier whenever they have needed a de- 
fender, and his comrades everywhere have long since learned 
that they have no truer friend than he. His unvarying success 
in public life has been phenomenal, but all his honors have been 
well earned and he wears them verv graccfullv. 



Henry J. Grannis, ist Lieutenant Company C, was a native 
of Indiana, born in 1841. He was one of the original members 
of the "University Recruits" and enlisted in U. S. service Sep- 
tember 15, 1861. He was elected 5th Sergeant and "Color 
Bearer" of the company by the ladies of the University upon 



27 

presentin^s: a flag to the company and upon the or^g^anization of 
the regiment when his company became Color Company. 
Grannis was designated as Regimental Color Bearer which posi- 
tion he held "throii^(^h the war." He carried the colors of the 
regiment at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh and was taken 
prisoner on that field, remaining prisoner until Octolier. On the 
reorganization of the regiment he resumed his old position and 
carried the flag on every march in every campaign and during 
every battle in which the regiment was engaged from enlistment 
to muster out ; a record we venture to say made by no other 
Color Bearer in the service. In several engagements the colors 
were riddled in his hands. On one occasion every guard was 
killed or wounded, yet strange to say Grannis never received a 
scratch nor suiTered the flag to go from his hands. That it was 
always at the front and carried with the greatest gallantry every 
ofiicial report from the regiment testifies for every one of them 
makes special mention of "Our Gallant Color Bearer." 

He received a merited promotion as ist Lieutenant Company 
C, November 22, 1865. vice Henderson promoted, but failed to 
muster in as a commissioned officer and retained the more con- 
spicious and honorable place as Color Bearer to the end. Some 
interesting items are published in "Company History of the 
Flag," in regard to his election, etc. 

He was finally discharged with the regiment January 20, '66; 
returned to Fayette County, settled down to private life which 
has been undisturbed except by one term in public office as 
Recorder of Deeds of Fayette 'County. It has been his good 
fortune to meet the boys of the 12th at each of their reunions 
until 1903, where he has always been received with the greatest 
enthusiasm and love. 



Aaron M. Smith, 2d Lieutenant Company C, was a native 
of Indiana and a member of Company B, ist Iowa Infantry. He 
was severely wounded at Wilson's Creek and before wound 
healed came home and enlisted, September 19, 1861, in Company 



28 

C. At the organization of said company he was elected 2d 
Lieutenant. He was in command of the company at Fort Donel- 
son after Lt. Henderson was wounded. 

At time of Battle of Shiloh he was sick in camp, and escaped 
the prison life. His health being poor he resigned his commis- 
sion Jnne 7, 1862, and went home. About the time of the re- 
organization of the regiment at St. Louis he re-enlisted as a 
private in Company C, and served as such until March, 1864, 
when he was appointed Captain in the 71st U. S. Colored In- 
fantry with which he served until the end of the war when he 
married and settled at South Bend, Indiana, where he died Jan- 
uary I, 1883. 



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MAP OF 

SH11-0H BATTLEF1EL0 

POSIT ON^ ON SECOND DAY APRIL7,I862 
PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

THE SECRETARY OF WAR 

BY THE 



SURVEYED AND DRAWN BY 

ATWELL THOMPSON BE. 

LNqiNEEB IN CHAPQE 



UNION ARMY 
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MAJOR D.W.REED 

SECRETARY ■"•><, H ISTORIAN 






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